VIENNA, November 18 (Sputnik), Daria Chernyshova - Negotiating teams of the P5+1 group are gathering in Vienna for a final round of talks to reach a comprehensive agreement on the implementation of Iran's nuclear energy program.
"US negotiating team in the [Iran Talks] just landed in Vienna. Big and important week of discussions ahead," Deputy Spokesperson for the US State Department Marie Harf posted on Twitter on Tuesday.
US negotiating team in the #IranTalks just landed in Vienna. Big and important week of discussions ahead.
— Marie Harf (@marieharf) 18 ноября 2014
"Heading to Vienna for E3/EU+3 talks with Iran led by Catherine Ashton [former EU foreign policy chief] on Iran's nuclear programme," Michael Mann, spokesman for the EU foreign policy chief tweeted earlier today.
Heading to Vienna for E3/EU+3 talks with #Iran led by Catherine #Ashton on Iran's #nuclear programme. #IranTalks #IranTalksVienna
— Michael Mann (@MichaelMannEU) 18 ноября 2014
Talks are expected to begin with an informal lunch attended by EU chief negotiator Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif.
Beginning today, negotiators from six members of the P5+1 group will be discussing any remaining differences in the way of a permanent agreement on Iran's nuclear energy program.
According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, the chances of success are high and negotiators are confident of reaching an agreement by the November 24 deadline.
"I think that chances do not simply exist, but the chances are high. During all the time of negotiations between P5+1 group with Iran, the participants have never been so close to an agreement, and have never had such a well-developed structure, where the details have been worked out thoroughly, every single unresolved question has been analyzed, studied, the options have been developed, as well as alternatives," Ryabkov said last week in Brisbane.
The final steps in reaching a permanent agreement with Iran are expected to be the most difficult. According to Iranian officials, previous talks did not yield results because the United States introduced more demands. Mohammad Zarif said Tuesday that an agreement on Iran's nuclear program can be reached if no "excessive demands" are set.
"A deal is still possible," Zarif was quoted by Iranian media as saying. "If, because of excessive demands by the other side, we don't get a result then the world will understand that the Islamic Republic sought a solution, a compromise and a constructive agreement and that it will not renounce its rights and the greatness of the nation," Agence France-Presse quoted the minister as saying.
The members of the P5+1 group, also known as E3/EU+3, are: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, the United States and China.
US Secretary of State John Kerry, as well as Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are expected to attend the talks later this week.
