Iran Wants Removal of Crude, Banking Sanctions in First Step

(FNA)- Iran's deputy lead negotiator Seyed Abbas Araqchi underlined Tehran's irreversible demand for the termination of all sanctions under any possible deal with the six world powers, reiterating that his country insists on the removal of all economic, financial and crude embargoes in the first step.

"We insist that all the economic, financial and crude sanctions be canceled in the first step of the agreement and a specific framework be drawn for (the removal of) those embargoes that are related to other sectors," Araqchi, also a deputy foreign minister, told the Iranian state-run TV Channel One after a week of marathon talks with the delegations of the 5+1 group of powers in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

"Progress has been made with regard to the removal of the sanctions, but it is not complete yet," he added.

Araqchi said two or three "key" issues have remained unresolved, cautioning that a final deal will be possible only when the seven nations attain "pragmatic and moderate solutions" to these issues.

"Sanctions are one of these key issues, and research and development is another one, and we hope to conclude discussions over these two issues today," he continued.

He said the seven nations are likely to conclude their talks after obtaining solutions to all issues today and declare the progress that they have made in a "joint press statement" later today.

Yet, he reiterated that the declaration will be no more than a "press release on the progresses made in the negotiations" and "it won't be the final deal as the negotiating parties need to write down the solutions after the present stage".

"When you find solutions and formulas, then they should be written down in black and white," Araqchi said.

He said although it is true that the negotiating parties are in talks after the enunciated March 31 deadline, "content is much more important to us than time and deadline".

"We will never be taken captive by time," the senior Iranian negotiator said, adding that talks are presently underway at the level of both experts and foreign ministers, although the French, Chinese and German foreign ministers had to leave Lausanne due to their work plans.

Iran and Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) started their new round of talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday to narrow their differences over Tehran's nuclear energy program ahead of a July 1 deadline.

After almost 17 hours of talks on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters in Lausanne at midnight the negotiating teams from Iran and the six world powers have found solutions to a major portion of their differences and will start drafting the final deal from Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters after marathon talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) in Laussane, Switzerland, early Wednesday morning, Zarif voiced pleasure in the latest round of the negotiations and said, "Very good progress was made in the talks."

Asked if differences have been resolved, Zarif said, "Solutions have been fully specified for most issues."

Zarif expressed the hope that drafting the final nuclear deal would start "Wednesday morning".

"Drafting should, of course, start this morning," he added.

He said the seven nations will likely issue a joint statement at the end of their meeting today.

A few minutes earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Iran and the world powers have eventually worked out an agreement, adding that the seven nations are now working on drafting the text.

Speaking Russian media at the end of marathon talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, early Wednesday morning, Lavrov said Iran and the G5+1 (the US, Britain, China, Russia and France plus Germany) have reached an agreement in principle on all key issues.

"Now this has to be drafted," he said.