"Unfortunately, the progress pace is slowing down. It worries us more and more because the time left tothe deadline is getting short, and we must step onthe final stretch assoon aspossible," Ryabkov told reporters uponarrival in the Austrian capital,Vienna, on Thursday fora fresh roundof negotiations atthe level ofpolitical directors.
Negotiators from Iran and the P5+1 group of countries the United States, Britain, France, China andRussia plusGermany are seeking to finalize a comprehensive deal on Tehrans nuclear program by July 30.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (1st L) during official talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry (1st R) in Geneva, Switzerland, May 30, 2015. AP[/caption]Iran and its negotiating partners have been working on the text of a final deal since they reached a mutual understanding on the key parameters ofa final deal in the Swiss city of Lausanne on April 2.
Ryabkov, who is Russia's senior nuclear negotiator atIrans nuclear talks, said that among the thorny issues in the talks was the Arak heavy water reactor.
Iran and the P5+1 group of countries have reached understanding aboutthe future configuration ofthe heavy water reactor inArak, butthe sides are still unclear onwho will reconfigure the reactor, when, how and withwhat kind offinancing, the Russian diplomat said.
Iran has, on several occasions, stressed that it will not bow to excessive demands by the opposite side in the course of drafting the text of a final deal, warning that adopting such an approach by the six world powers could impede a final agreement.
Tehran says Arak nuclear facility will remain a heavy water reactor, but will be redesigned to produce less plutonium.
By Press TV
