In the meeting, the heads of the delegations expressed content with ongoing and relentless efforts by the expert teams and jointly evaluated the outcome of the current round of negotiations. 

Also present at the meeting was Iran’s chief negotiator Seyyed Abbas Araqchi, who touched upon the headway made during the current round of talks, especially with regards to the draft texts of the talks.

He said serious decisions need to be made in the capitals of the countries which are parties to the talks in order to resolve key outstanding issues.

He called on parties to the negotiations to adopt the necessary measures seriously, realistically and resolutely in order to protect and revive the JCPOA. 

Araqchi also said the negotiating teams are closer to reaching an agreement than ever.

He expressed hope a deal can be clinched in the upcoming round of negotiations, but noted that it cannot be guaranteed.

The heads of other negotiating teams also confirmed the progress made in the talks, and highlighted the need for all sides to work, with a constructive approach, towards paving the way for reaching an agreement.

“Today is the final day of the sixth round of the negotiations. We spent days working on a tight schedule and did a very tough job and, now, we are in a position that almost all documents related to the agreement are ready. A number of contentious issues have been resolved and a number of others remain,” said Araqchi.

“I believe it is now time for by our counterparts [in the talks] to make their mind. We are very close to an agreement but filling in the gap is not an easy task. Tonight we return to the capitals [for consultations].”

The deputy foreign minister had earlier lashed out at the administration of Joe Biden for maintaining anti-Iran sanctions, imposed by his predecessor Donald Trump.

The issue has been a key bone of contention in the Vienna talks for revival of the Iran nuclear deal.