Germany Hopeful about Iran-P5+1 Final Deal by Nov. 24

German Foreign Ministry Spokesman Martin Schaefer said his government “is still hopeful” that a lasting nuclear accord with Iran could be reached by a November 24 deadline.

“Some of the Western sanctions against Iran were lifted according to the Geneva interim agreement on November 24, 2013 and we expect the two sides to reach a final agreement in this round of talks,” Shaefer said on Friday.

The German foreign minister spokesman underlined his country’s firm determination to reach a final deal with Iran.

He urged all sides to show flexibility in their positions in a bid to ink a deal as there was still some time left until November 24.

Iran and P5+1 (the US, Russia, China, France and Britain plus Germany) are set to open a new round of negotiations in Oman on November 11.

Iran and the six major world powers have already held 8 rounds of nuclear negotiations after inking an interim agreement in Geneva on November 24, 2013, and have less than three weeks to strike a final deal before a November 24 deadline.

Tehran and the six powers have already held seven rounds of talks in Vienna, and one more round in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. They are now preparing for their 9th round of negotiations slated to be held in Masqat, Oman, on November 11.

The Geneva agreement took effect on January 20 and expired six months later on July 20. 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.