Iran says ‘very good’ atmosphere prevails in nuclear talks

“In general, a very good atmosphere prevails in the talks,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi told reporters in New York on Friday.

The senior Iranian nuclear negotiator also stated that differences on some issues exist but the two sides have expressed determination to continue the negotiations.

He expressed optimism that over the next days the two sides manage to sum up some of the existing issues and, if possible, they can make some tangible progress in the talks.

Araqchi pointed to the level of uranium enrichment, activities of Iran’s Arak and Fordow nuclear sites, and the manner in which the anti-Iran sanctions would be removed as some of the major bones of contention.

The latest round of nuclear talks between Iran and the six countries – Russia, China, the United States, Britain, France and Germany – started at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday morning.

The Iranian delegation is headed by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, leads the other party.

The two sides signed a historic interim deal in Geneva, Switzerland, last November. The agreement came into force on January 20 and expired six months later. In July, they agreed to extend the negotiations until November 24.