Iran nuclear deal tied to P5+1 goodwill: Araqchi

A senior Iranian nuclear negotiator says Iran and six world powers can reach a deal on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program if the other side shows real determination for an accord.

“We still hope and think that reaching an agreement is possible if the other side has the necessary determination and goodwill,” Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi said on Saturday.

Araqchi added that the talks between Iran and the world powers continue “very seriously,” but “problems and disagreements” still persist.

A fresh round of talks between Iran and P5+1 countries – the US, the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany – started in the Swiss city of Geneva early Saturday.

Araqchi said EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, is expected to join the negotiations which may run into Sunday.

The meeting comes as Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has been engaged in four rounds of talks with US secretary of State John Kerry over the past three days.

Zarif also held talks with his German and French foreign ministers, during which he urged his European counterparts to play a more active role in the final phases of the negotiations on Iran’s nuclear deal.