Extension of N-Talks Not on Agenda of Vienna Discussions

An Iranian diplomatic source has told Press TV that extension of Tehran’s nuclear talks with six major world powers beyond the Monday deadline is not on the agenda of Vienna discussions.

The statement comes following media reports citing an unnamed Iranian source as saying on Sunday morning that it would be impossible to reach a final deal before November 24 and that the two sides may consider a new extension.

The sources also told Press TV that despite the existing differences between the two sides, things can change at the very last minute, saying that progress made at each and every session can be very decisive.

Sources also say some previously contentious issues such as Arak heavy water reactor could be resolved and there are helpful proposals on the table which can pave the ground for the settlement of differences.

Possible scenarios are being considered; however, failure of the talks is considered to be very unlikely.

On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, his US counterpart John Kerry and EU nuclear negotiator Catherine Ashton held another meeting at Vienna’s Coburg Hotel.

Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Ministers Abbas Araqchi and Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi also held talks with delegates from China and the US as well as Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Ashton’s deputy Helga Schmid.

Later on Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is slated to head to the Austrian capital to join the nuclear negotiations.

Foreign ministers from countries involved in the talks on Iran's nuclear program have been also holding meetings to pave the way for the negotiations to culminate in a successful ending.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held bilateral talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry. According to reports, the two sides discussed the possible extension of the ongoing nuclear negotiations among other issues.

"Our focus remains on taking steps forward toward an agreement, but it is only natural that just over 24 hours from the deadline, we are discussing a range of options both internally and with our P5+1 partners," a senior State Department official said on condition of anonymity, adding, "An extension is one of those options."

Following his talks with Zarif, the top US diplomat had a bilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. There have been no reports on the details of the meeting yet.

Earlier in the day, Kerry briefly left closed-door Iran nuclear talks to update Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal on the negotiations. The Saudi minister flew to Vienna from Paris solely for the briefing.

Before talks with Kerry, Lavrov also had a meeting with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

"If there isn't quite a conclusion, we will have to search for possibilities to ensure that nothing breaks off here and the process can be continued,” Steinmeier said.

The Iranian foreign minister and his Russian counterpart have also begun their own bilateral discussions.

The French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius is also scheduled to have a working dinner with Kerry, Steinmeier, and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond as well as Catherine Ashton, the EU’s nuclear negotiator.

"There are still differences to overcome, but that's the job we have to do," Fabius said after his arrival in Vienna late on Sunday.

Source: Press TVhttp://www.presstv.com/