After a tentative deal between Iran and the six powers was reached
in Switzerland on April 2, different interpretations have emerged
over what was agreed in the framework and both sides have given
different versions of the timing within that.
"Lifting sanctions will be one of the main topics in this round of
talks … If the other party shows political good will, we can reach a
final agreement," Iran's deputy foreign minister Abbas Araqchi told
Iranian state TV on Wednesday.
Talks begin with a bilateral meeting between European Union
political director Helga Schmid and Araqchi at about 8 a.m. EDT, the
EU said. Talks between Iran and the six powers, including U.S. under
secretary Wendy Sherman, will follow this week.
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Iran insists it would only accept a final deal over its contested
nuclear program if world powers simultaneously lifted all sanctions
imposed on it.
The United States has made it clear that sanctions on Iran would
have to be phased out gradually under the final pact.
Iran's foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said on Iranian
state television on Wednesday that U.S. Secretary of State, John
Kerry, and his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, "discussed
Iran's nuclear issue by phone last night".
Iran and the powers are trying to end more than 12 years of
diplomatic wrangling over the country's disputed nuclear program,
which Tehran says is peaceful but Western powers fear is aimed at
developing an atomic bomb.
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U.S. President Barack Obama was forced to give Congress a say in any
future accord - including the right of lawmakers to veto the lifting
of sanctions imposed by the United States.
Araqchi said on state television on Wednesday that the U.S.
administration was "responsible to ensure that its commitments,
particularly sanctions-related ones, are fulfilled".
Many other issues have to be hammered out before the end-of-June
deadline for the final deal to be done.
(Additional reporting by Shadia Nasralla and by Adrian Croft in
Brussels; Editing by Louise Ireland)
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