Iran on Wednesday said it is determined to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement with the six world powers, but "not at any cost." "We are resolute that an accord be achieved but not at any cost. Meanwhile, we have declared readiness to continue the (nuclear) negotiations," Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said at her weekly press conference in Tehran.
The official Islamic Republic News agency (IRNA) quoted Afkham as saying that "Tehran is ready to continue dialog with the six world powers up to the July 20 deadline and even beyond that date with the aim of reaching a nuclear deal." The Iranian diplomat also expressed hope that the Islamic Republic and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France, Britain, and the United States plus Germany could reach a "sustainable, reasonable and fair" deal.
On the expected visit by some foreign ministers of the six countries to Vienna to join the ongoing talks on Iran's nuclear energy program, Afkham noted that the top diplomats seek to be informed of "the process and continuation of the consultations." On July 3, Iran and the six countries formally kicked off their sixth round of nuclear talks this year in the Austrian capital Vienna to discuss a permanent accord on Tehran's nuclear energy program.
Iran and the six countries have been discussing ways to sort out their differences and achieve a final deal that would end the decade-old dispute over Iran's nuclear energy program.
The two sides sealed an interim deal in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 23, 2013. The deal came into force in January and expires on July 20, but can be extended depending on an agreement by all parties involved.