Iran, world powers resume talks to prepare draft of nuclear deal

Representatives from Iran and world powers began a new round of nuclear talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna on Thursday with the aim of preparing a preliminary draft for a possible nuclear deal by June 30.

Iranian senior nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi met with European Union deputy foreign policy chief Helga Schmid, who represents six world powers, on Thursday to narrow differences which are hindering progress in the talks.

Iran and the P5+1 group, namely Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, plus Germany, are contending over inspections on Iran's nuclear sites under the additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Araqchi was quoted as saying by state IRIB TV.

"Iran will not accept inspections to its military sites," Araqchi said as the West insists on access to some Iranian military sites for an alleged possible military dimension in Iran's nuclear activities.

"In spite of significant progresses in preparing the draft deal, there is still hard work to do," Araqchi added.

On Nov. 24, 2013, world powers and Iran reached an interim agreement on Iran's nuclear program, which demanded Iran suspend some sensitive nuclear activities in exchange for limited sanction relief to buy time for diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue.

Negotiators agreed on a framework of understanding early April and set June 30 as a self-imposed deadline for reaching a final deal after missing the previous two deadlines in June and November last year. Endit