Iran and the West put the onus for reaching a historic deal over Tehran’s nuclear programme on each other on Tuesday, as a final round of talks geared up in Vienna despite big gaps remaining ahead of a November 24 deadline.
Speaking as he arrived in Vienna for the negotiations, Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that an accord would only happen if the other side — the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany — make no “excessive demands”.
“If, because of excessive demands ... We don’t get a result, then the world will understand that the Islamic Republic sought a solution, a compromise and a constructive agreement and that it will not renounce its rights and the greatness of the nation,” Zarif told Iranian media.