Iran's Natanz Nuclear Research Center. (Illustration photo: AFP/VNA)

Both Iran and the P5+1 group (the US, the UK, France, China, Russia and Germany) are saying the negotiations have reached a decisive stage and a final agreement is "very close".

Progress in negotiations

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh wrote on Twitter Thursday, “Everybody is now focused on the final critical steps.” Two days earlier he wrote, “A deal is at hand”. Sharing this view, Russia's chief nuclear negotiator Mikhail Ulyanov said negotiations to restore the Iran nuclear deal and lift sanctions is about to come to an end and the obstacles are relatively small. Although the US’s assessment has been somewhat more cautious, US State Department spokesman Ned Price says the US is “in the midst of the very final stages" of indirect talks with Iran aimed at salvaging the deal.

The disagreements not yet resolved are mainly between the US and Iran.

Greater efforts needed

According to Iran’s spokesperson Khatibzadeh three issues remain: the extent of waivers of sanctions on Iran, assurances that the United States will not withdraw from the agreement again, and Iran's honoring its nuclear commitments.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price. Photo: AFP/VNA

US spokesperson Price said in a statement on Tuesday that Washington and its allies have prepared a plan B in the event of a failed negotiation, which may be interpreted as a warning that the West's patience is limited and Washington does not intend to pursue fruitless negotiations indefinitely. A spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry urged the negotiating parties to reach an agreement within a week. Mr. Khatibzadeh has said Tehran will not accept any deadlines set by the West for the restoration of the nuclear deal.

European Union envoy Enrique Mora, who is the coordinator of the Vienna talks, wrote on Twitter on Thursday, “Some relevant issues are still open and success is never guaranteed in such a complex negotiation.”