Understanding solid foundation for good deal: Kerry

US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to the press after Iran nuclear program talks finished with extended sessions on April 2, 2015 in Lausanne, Switzerland.(AFP photo)

US Secretary of State John Kerry says the political understanding between Iran and P5+1 group over Tehran’s nuclear program is a solid foundation for a good deal.

On Thursday, the P5+1 – the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany – reached an outline of an agreement with Iran over its civilian nuclear work that would lift all international sanctions imposed against the Islamic Republic in exchange for certain steps Tehran will take with regard to its nuclear program.

Kerry said in Lausanne, Switzerland, the experts from involved parties will work hard to finalize a comprehensive deal by the end of June.

He described the “historic understanding” announced on Thursday as "solid foundation for the good deal we are seeking."

The top US diplomat noted that under the current arrangement, the international community will have confidence that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful.

The P5+1 leaders announced they had agreed to the "key parameters of an arrangement that, once implemented, will give the international community confidence that Iran's nuclear program is and will remain exclusively peaceful," Kerry said.

He went on to say that the parameters of the upcoming agreement would be implemented in phases.

"There will be no sunset to the deal that we are working to finalize. No sunset. None," Kerry said. "The parameters of this agreement will be implemented in phases.”

Kerry defended the compromises the US made to reach the understanding over Iran’s nuclear issue.

"Simply demanding that Iran capitulate makes a nice sound bite, but it is not a policy, it is not a realistic plan," he said.

Earlier, US President Barack Obama welcomed the "historic understanding" with Iran, saying that it paves the way for a final agreement in three months.

Iran and the P5+1 have been holding negotiations for more than two years to reach a comprehensive deal on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. The two sides have set July 1 as the final deadline for a comprehensive deal.

Iran and the P5+1 adopted a joint statement on Thursday, after marathon talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne calling, among other things, for the removal of UN Security Council resolutions and sanctions imposed against the Islamic Republic.

The statement was read out in a joint press conference in Lausanne by European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

In the framework of the agreement, none of Iran’s nuclear facilities as well as the previous activities will be stopped, shut down or suspended and Iran’s nuclear activities in all its nuclear facilities including Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan and Arak will continue.

The comprehensive solutions will guarantee the continued enrichment program inside the Iranian territory and according to this, Iran will be allowed to go on with industrial production of nuclear fuel which is meant for running its nuclear power plants.

GJH/GJH


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