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Iran tells EU's Ashton nuclear deal possible in months | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Iranian foreign minister has told the visiting EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, that a nuclear deal could come in the next four months. | |
Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks lasting more than an hour with Baroness Ashton, who is making her first visit to Tehran amid a thaw in relations. | |
"We can do it in four or five months and even shorter," Mr Zarif said. | |
Baroness Ashton cautioned there was "no guarantee" her talks would lead to a comprehensive agreement. | |
World powers want Iran to scale back its nuclear work to ensure it cannot assemble a nuclear weapon. | |
The election of Iranian moderate Hassan Rouhani as president last year led to an improvement in ties between the Islamic Republic and the EU. | |
In November, Baroness Ashton helped broker a deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme in return for limited sanctions relief. | In November, Baroness Ashton helped broker a deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme in return for limited sanctions relief. |
Analysts say the war in Syria is also expected to be discussed, as Iran is a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad. | Analysts say the war in Syria is also expected to be discussed, as Iran is a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad. |
It is the first visit to Iran by an EU policy chief since 2008. | |
'No guarantee' | |
"This interim agreement is really important but not as important as a comprehensive agreement [which is]... difficult, challenging," Baroness Ashton said at a joint news conference with Mr Zarif. | |
"There is no guarantee that we will succeed." | |
There was, she added, a need for support from all sides. | |
The BBC's Lyse Doucet, who is in Tehran, says the visit is primarily aimed at exploring the potential for a new relationship between Iran and Europe. | The BBC's Lyse Doucet, who is in Tehran, says the visit is primarily aimed at exploring the potential for a new relationship between Iran and Europe. |
But it is hoped Baroness Ashton can send a message to Iran's leaders that there is much to gain if they continue to build a new relationship with the international community, she adds. | But it is hoped Baroness Ashton can send a message to Iran's leaders that there is much to gain if they continue to build a new relationship with the international community, she adds. |
Last year's interim deal with the so-called P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - saw Iran curb uranium enrichment. | |
Iranian media say the trip will also take Baroness Ashton to the historical city of Isfahan on Monday. |