Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton (L)

The EU Monday repeated its position that the ultimate objective of the negotiations with Iran is to get a comprehensive and long standing solution in which Iran would reassure the international community of the exclusive peaceful nature of its nuclear programme.
"The negotiations are ongoing (in Vienna) as we speak. I am not able to give you any more information at this stage except that meetings and discussions are going on extensively," EU spokesperson for foreign and security affairs, Catherine Ray, told a news conference in Brussels. She noted that there were a series of bilateral meetings in Vienna today followed by a coordination meeting of 5+1 (China, France, Russia, UK,US plus Germany) which will be followed by a meeting of 5+1 with Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif this afternoon.
The deadline to reach a comprehensive agreement on Iran's nuclear programme is today midnight.
Former EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, is leading the talks on behalf of the 5+1.