High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini says the six countries engaged in talks with Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program have never been closer to a deal.

“As you know, we have never been so close to a deal. We still have some critical points that need to be solved, and we are working over the hours, over the weekend to bridge the gaps. I will not go into the details of the negotiations. It’s not the right time to do it. I hope we manage to do it in the coming days,” Mogherini told reports in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Saturday evening.
She added, “We are always optimistic... As I said, we have never been so close in the last weeks. I think we’ve made substantial progress so the work of the last weeks has been very positive. There still are some points on which we have to work hard to find solutions.”
“I think if there is the common ground that unites us all in the negotiations, we can have a good deal – a deal that can be solid. A good deal for everybody and having a good deal would be obviously very important for us,” the EU foreign policy chief pointed out.

Mogherini’s remarks come as Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif earlier on Saturday held separate talks with his German and French counterparts over the outstanding issues between the parties to the negotiations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (center) speaks to reporters after separate meetings with his German and French counterparts in Lausanne, Switzerland, March 28, 2015. © APZarif told reporters that he had an “excellent” meeting with the German and French foreign ministers.

“I had a very good meeting with both, we discussed all the issues that need to be resolved,” he said.
Iran’s top diplomat added, “I think we can in fact make the necessary progress to be able to resolve all the issues and write them down in a text that will become the final agreement. It depends on how long it will take to do that but we are prepared to work diligently in order to move forward and I think that there is every indication that we can in fact move forward.”
Also on Saturday, senior negotiators from Iran and the United States sat down for another round of negotiations in Lausanne.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif (R), head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi (2nd R), US Secretary of State John Kerry (L), and US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz (2nd L) wait at the start of a meeting on nuclear talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, March 28, 2015. © APIran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - plus Germany are seeking to clinch a comprehensive nuclear deal as a deadline slated for July 1 draws closer.

By Press TV