Attainment of Political Framework for N. Deal Possible in Weeks

(FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined that reaching a political framework for a final nuclear deal with the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) will be possible within the next few weeks.

Zarif made the remarks after Iran and the six world powers broke off negotiations on Monday and decided to meet again in the next 7 months after missing a deadline to clinch a final deal to resolve their 12-year standoff over Tehran's nuclear program.

"We don’t intend to use all the 7 months and 7 days at all but we are trying to reach a political understanding in the shortest period of time possible and then compile the agreement in the form of a technical and political package," he said, adding that reaching a political framework for the nuclear deal will be possible within weeks.

"We merely need more time for the technical issues but a political agreement doesn’t need so much time and there are only some tough decisions that need to be taken and flexibility need to be shown," Zarif said.

The Iranian top diplomat stressed that reaching an agreement between Tehran and the world powers can change the regional situation, and added, "We shouldn’t waste our time for a fabricated crisis."

Zarif and EU coordinator Catherine Ashton announced last night that the talks had been extended until July 10, and the world powers had taken up to release $700 million of Iran's frozen assets on a monthly basis.

The 10th and last round of negotiations between Iran and the six world powers was held in Vienna.

In July, Tehran and the six countries agreed to extend negotiations until November 24 after they failed to reach an agreement on a number of key issues.