Iran nuclear talks make "substantial progress", but differences remain: Western powers

Foreign Ministers of Britain, France, Germany, the United States and the European Union (EU) met in London on Saturday to review progress in the nuclear talks with Iran.

The meeting, held after intense nuclear talks with Iran in Switzerland, was attended by British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini.

"We agreed that substantial progress had been made in key areas although there are still important issues on which no agreement has yet been possible," the leaders said in a joint statement after the meeting.

Urging Iran "to take difficult decisions," the leaders said: "We reaffirmed that we are all equally committed to finding a solution that ensures that Iran's nuclear program remains exclusively peaceful in line with its stated commitment."

"Any solution must be comprehensive, durable and verifiable. None of our countries can subscribe to a deal that does not meet these terms," the statement added.

Noting that the negotiations are "at an important moment," the leaders continued: "If we are able to resolve all the main issues, technical work will follow to convert a framework into a detailed text."

In the statement, the foreign ministers said the negotiations are "a shared effort among the E3+3 coordinated by the EU."

"Experts in different disciplines from every member of the group are contributing in depth to our coordinated negotiating positions and this coordination, as well as multiple bilateral talks with Iran, will continue to be a vital part of achieving success," they said.

The leaders vowed to "continue to work together with unity of purpose to secure a successful outcome." Enditem