IRAN-NUCLEAR/RUSSIA Russia says talks on Iran nuclear programme now most difficult

Record ID: 147916

  • Title: IRAN-NUCLEAR/RUSSIA Russia says talks on Iran nuclear programme now most difficult
  • Date: 9th July 2015
  • Summary: UFA, RUSSIA (JULY 9, 2015) (REUTERS) RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI RYABKOV ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, SERGEI RYABKOV, SAYING: "Yes, of course, we are working together with our colleagues from the Group of Six and together with our Iranian friends on those proposals that Iran submitted, as far as
  • Embargoed: 24th July 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1BMGN4TGA9JF2EF8UV1F1M5CV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Nuclear talks between Iran and the world's six major powers have entered their most difficult phase, but all involved parties are working on new proposals submitted by Tehran, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday (July 9).
    "Yes, of course, we are working together with our colleagues from the Group of Six and together with our Iranian friends on those proposals that Iran submitted, as far as I understand, the day before yesterday in Vienna. This work is rather difficult and laborious," Ryabkov told journalists on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Ufa.
    "These talks can be compared to a mountain climber ascending a mountain peak. When 95 percent of the journey is behind and only a few steps remain, it is usually those last meters, those last crampons and switching between carabiners - I'm imagining this only in theory but I think that's how it happens - this when it becomes most difficult. And that's where we are in Vienna at the talks with Iran over its nuclear programme," said Ryabkov.
    Iran has offered some new solutions to resolve the disputes in the nuclear talks on Wednesday (July 8), but Western officials suggested they had heard nothing new from Tehran.
    Iran and the powers are in the last stretch of talks to reach a final agreement to end a more than 12-year standoff over Iran's nuclear programme. The aim is to lift sanctions in exchange for at least a decade of curbs on the programme.
    Ryabkov said that Russia was working alongside China to work out a solution.
    "I would only underline that this is one of those issues where we work with China as our BRICS partner on a daily basis," he said.
    Western countries accuse Iran of seeking the capability to build nuclear weapons, while Tehran says its programme is peaceful.
    A successful deal could be the biggest milestone in decades towards easing hostility between Iran and the United States, foes since Iranian revolutionaries stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979.
    It would also be a political success for both U.S. President Barack Obama and Iran's pragmatic President Hassan Rouhani, both of whom face scepticism from powerful hardliners at home.
    Rouhani arrived in Ufa just before midnight on Wednesday. He will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday and take part in a meeting with the BRICS leaders.
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