Chinese vice foreign minister claims step away from possible comprehensive Iran nuke deal

Xinhua

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Chinese vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong told reporters on Sunday in Vienna there won't be a long extension of Iranian nuclear negotiation, and that sides in the talks are only "a step away" from the possible comprehensive nuclear deal.

Li said that it is possible to make a comprehensive deal on Iranian nuclear issue within one week, though many tough issues still needed to be resolved, Li told reporters.

"Now it's time to make a vigorous effort. Not only the political will is required, but the political will must be put into action," Li said.

There is little chance to strike a deal before the self-imposed June 30 deadline, as some gaps remain and a lot of work still needed to be done.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini also told reporters sides in the talks would stick to the June 30 deadline but would interpret it in a flexible way like in Lausanne, the deadline would stay at the end of June or at the beginning of July, saying "hopefully" to finalize the deal in coming days.

Iran and five UN Security Council permanent members plus Germany have been negotiating over the past 14 months to reach a long-term deal over Tehran's disputed atomic plan. During the period, Iran would suspend some sensitive nuclear activates, in return, western states would partially relief some sanction imposed on Tehran.

Sides in the talks made a framework agreement on April 2 in Lausanne in Switzerland, but Iran and western states have some differences in interpreting it.

"We got a lot of good solutions in Lausanne which are being applied now. But in some issues we didn't reach a solution in Lausanne, however some cases which we agreed upon in Lausanne are not applicable," Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian media.