Final nuclear deal possible in 6 months: Swedish FM

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt says a comprehensive agreement between Iran and the six major world powers on Iran’s nuclear energy program is possible within six months.

It will be beneficial to both negotiating sides to reach a final agreement and the deal will definitely be achieved if there is a will to solve Iran’s nuclear issue, Bildt said in a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Tehran on Tuesday.

He added that all sides should concentrate their efforts on achieving the final agreement within six months.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany sealed an interim deal in Geneva on November 24, 2013, to pave the way for the full resolution of the West’s decade-old dispute with Iran over the country’s nuclear energy program. The deal came into effect on January 20.

Under the Geneva deal, the six countries – Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany — have undertaken to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for the Islamic Republic agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during six months.

The Swedish foreign minister further asserted Iran’s right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and called on the Islamic Republic to build confidence with the international community.

Bildt said his country is prepared to increase economic exchanges with Iran after the removal of sanctions against Tehran and expressed hope that Iran would improve ties with Sweden and the European Union.

After Iran and the six powers started to implement the Geneva deal on January 20, the European Union Council suspended part of the sanctions it had imposed against Iran for a period of six months.