Lavrov: 'Significant Progress' Made in Nuclear Talks With Iran

The parties are moving toward signing the final agreement on Iran's nuclear program, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov states.

VIENNA, November 24 (Sputnik) – “Significant progress” was made during the nuclear talks with Iran in Vienna, although the main goal of the negotiations is yet to be achieved, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.

“Talks on Iran have been conducted for quite a while, but they received a powerful impetus last year, when a joint action plan was agreed in Geneva. This plan has been strictly observed this year,” Lavrov said.

“This allowed us to make significant progress in approaching the final agreement. It is yet to be reached, but the progress is significant,” he told reporters.

Lavrov: Today's #Iran nuclear talks not in vain http://t.co/cNcFFhbKkL pic.twitter.com/OPuUgc9fMc

— RT (@RT_com) 24 ноября 2014

Lavrov added that Tehran has confirmed its readiness to continue actively working with the P5+1 group of nuclear negotiators.

"The six nations, and the Iranian foreign minister are determined to work actively, without any pauses," Lavrov said.

"Within three or four months we expect to prepare a document containing all basic principles," he added.

Iran Ready to Continue Active Work With P5+1 Negotiators

Tehran has confirmed its readiness to continue active work with the P5+1 group of nuclear negotiators, Sergei Lavrov conveyed.

“The six nations, and the Iranian foreign minister are determined to work actively, without any pauses,” Lavrov said.

“Within three or four months we expect to prepare a document containing all basic principles,” he added.

The so-called P5+1 group of international mediators comprising representatives from Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, Germany, and Tehran arrived in Vienna on November 18, hoping to reach a deal guaranteeing the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program by Monday.

Earlier in the day, the IRNA news agency reported that Iran and the international mediators agreed to extend the deadline to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement until July 1, 2014, and to resume negotiations in the next few weeks.

The P5+1 group of six world powers joined diplomatic efforts in 2006 following western countries" suspicion that Iran was trying to build a nuclear weapon. Tehran, in turn, has repeatedly stated that its nuclear program is peaceful and that the country would not give up on it. During talks in Geneva in November 2013, the international mediators agreed to reach a long-term comprehensive agreement with Tehran by July 2014, but due to remaining differences of opinion the deadline was postponed to November 24, 2014.