Outcome of Iran’s nuclear talks outweighing deadline

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov says reaching a sustainable agreement over Iran’s nuclear energy program is more important than meeting a November 24 deadline for a final accord.

“Achieving a sustainable result that would be resistant to international developments is more important than meeting a certain deadline. Though there is no doubt that having a deadline gives a stimulus,” Ryabkov said on Wednesday.

Rayabkov, who is Russia’s chief negotiator in the talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany, said that the last steps to reach a comprehensive agreement on Tehran’s nuclear issue are the hardest ones, adding that a “political will” would determine the outcome of the talks.

“We have always said that political will matters most for achieving the agreement. If it is there or not, we are yet to find out,” said Rayabkov.

He also said that some unpredictabilities are expected in the talks between Tehran and the six world powers, “but they will be mostly of tactical and technical nature, rather than the change of the entire landscape.”

“But we all are doing our best for the agreement to be worked out by this deadline (November 24),” Ryabkov said.