EU’s Mogherini: Time to show political will for Iran’s nuclear deal

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini underlined that Iran and six world powers should seize the opportunity, in their negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear energy program, to reach a comprehensive deal.

Speaking in the 51st Munich Security Conference on Sunday, Mogherini pointed to the ongoing talks between Iran and P5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) and said, “We cannot lose the opportunity.”

She further commented on the deadline for a nuclear deal between the two sides, and said, “Not much time is left. Now is the time to show a strong political will… now we are at a critical stage.”

Earlier in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday, Mogherini said that P5+1 has “strong political determination” to strike a deal with Iran.

She also noted that the long-awaited accord will have positive effects on the regional developments.

Iran and the six nations (alternatively known as E3+3) are in talks to hammer out a final agreement to end more than a decade of impasse over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear energy program.

Iran and the six powers look to reach a framework agreement in March and a final long-term deal by June 30.

Following an interim nuclear deal signed in Geneva in November 2013, two deadlines for a final, comprehensive deal have been missed, and now a third one is looming on July 1.