Mohammad Javad Zarif accompanied by deputies Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Majid Takht-Ravanchi, US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU deputy foreign policy chief, Helga Schmid began nuclear talks in Geneva ahead of June 30 to reach a final deal.
A source close to the negotiating team told Mehr News correspondent the talks were forward-moving but slow.
Pointing to the drafts under discussion, the source noted there were similar views on certain issues and some differences on others both in regard to sanctions and the nuclear program.
Expressing hope today’s ministerial meeting would settle differences on certain issues to some extent, he maintained extensive negotiations were needed to reach an agreement by the deadline.
“The issue of extension is not yet on the table, but what is of importance to us is an agreement that will meet the country’s interests and we are not under any time pressure," he said.
Negotiations between Iran and the six countries are aimed at reaching a final agreement to fully resolve the decade-old dispute between the West and Tehran over the latter’s nuclear energy program.
The two sides sealed an interim deal in the Swiss city of Geneva on November 24, 2013 which came into force on January 20.