Diplomatic efforts to continue to find comprehensive solution to Iranian nuclear issue

After seven days of intensive talks in Vienna, led by Catherine Ashton i, negotiators from the E3/EU+3 and Iran agreed on Monday 24 November to continue diplomatic efforts to find a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

They decided to extend the measures in the November 2013 Joint Plan of Action to allow for further negotiations until June 30th, 2015, expressing the intention to build on the current momentum to complete the negotiations within the shortest possible time, up to four months, and if necessary to use the remaining time until the end of June to finalize any possible remaining technical and drafting work.

Meanwhile, Iran and the E3/EU+3 will continue to implement all their commitments described in the Joint Plan of Action in an efficient and timely manner, and the IAEA will be asked to continue monitoring the voluntary measures under the Joint Plan of Action.

The aim is to find a comprehensive solution to reassure the international community of the purely peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme.

Based on the strong commitment by all sides to reach a mutually-agreed long-term comprehensive solution, there have been ten rounds of negotiations and numerous meetings during the past months. Some ideas have been developed, but given the technical nature of this effort and the decisions needed, more work is required to assess and finalize them as appropriate.

Despite the lack of agreement on a comprehensive solution in Vienna, the parties remain convinced that, based on the progress made and on the new ideas which continue to be explored, there is a credible path through which a comprehensive solution can be reached.

The next meeting to continue negotiations will happen in December.