Zarif: Final N. Deal Possible If Only Powers Show Pragmatism

(FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif complained about the difficulty of drafting a final deal between Tehran and the world powers, and called on the other side to harness their excessive demands and respect the Lausanne understanding if they really want a deal with Iran.

"The western countries should adopt a realistic and pragmatic view to make a comprehensive agreement possible," Zarif said in Moscow on Friday morning before leaving the Russian capital for Tehran.

He reiterated that if the other side shows respect for what was agreed in Lausanne, Switzerland, and attempts to write the text of the final agreement on the basis of mutual respect, then "we can strike a final deal" by the July 1 deadline.

The Iranian foreign minister, meantime, warned that if the western countries insist on their excessive demands in the negotiations, then the situation will grow difficult.

Zarif expressed the hope that Tehran and the World powers would reach an agreement before the deadline.

After nine days of hard work in Lausanne, Switzerland, Iran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, France and Britain plus Germany) reached an understanding on April 2 which laid the ground for them to start drafting the final nuclear deal over Tehran's nuclear energy program ahead of a July 1 deadline.

Reading out a joint statement at a press conference with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Lausanne on April 2, Zarif said according to the agreement, all the US, EU and UN Security Council sanctions against Iran would be lifted under the final deal.