VIENNA, November 24 (Sputnik) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has started a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Vienna, as the deadline for reaching an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program expires on Monday.
Встреча С.Лаврова с мининдел Китая Ван И в Вене / #Lavrov and #China FM Wang Yi talks in Vienna #IranTalksVienna #ияп pic.twitter.com/PlH9sbJWwH
— МИД РФ (@MID_RF) 24 ноября 2014
Earlier in the day, Wang met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif during breakfast. US Secretary of State John Kerry said on his Twitter he also plans to meet with Wang later in the day.
Will meet with Chinese FM Wang this morning to update him on progress. More meetings to come. #IranTalksVienna
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) 24 ноября 2014
The final round of talks on the Iranian nuclear program between Tehran and the P5+1 group of international negotiators comprising Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Germany, began in Vienna Tuesday. The group hopes to strike a comprehensive long-term nuclear deal with Tehran, guaranteeing the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program. An interim agreement was agreed upon during P5+1 talks in Geneva in November 2013.
The West has accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the guise of civilian activities, though this has been repeatedly denied by officials in Tehran, who claim the country's nuclear development is peaceful in nature and aimed at satisfying Iran's energy needs.