Iran Sees March 24 as ‘Flexible' Nuclear Deadline – Negotiator

The Iranian delegation considers March 24 as a 'flexible deadline' for reaching an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, according to Hamid Baeidinejad, a senior Iranian nuclear negotiator.

LAUSANNE (Sputnik) – Tehran sees March 24 as a flexible deadline for reaching an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, a senior Iranian nuclear negotiator said Thursday.

"The Iranian delegation thinks that March 24 is a flexible deadline, and the final deadline for us is late June. We do everything to reach our goal," Hamid Baeidinejad said, adding that his country's delegation is ready to negotiate for "as long as it takes."

A fresh round of Iranian nuclear talks kicked off last Sunday in Lausanne, in Switzerland. The talks are aimed at pressuring Iran into abandoning its alleged goal of building a nuclear weapon. Tehran argues its nuclear program is entirely for peaceful purposes.

Earlier, the group of six international mediators – Russia, France, Britain, China, Germany and the United States – set March 24 as a deadline for a political framework deal, with a final comprehensive agreement to follow in July.

But there are fears that continuing differences between Tehran and the P5+1 group may prevent the parties from staying on schedule. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tuesday the sides had better understanding, although he added a clear solution that would satisfy both parties was nowhere in sight.