U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, right, and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, shake hands during a meeting in Muscat, Oman, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2014. Omani Foreign Minister Yussef bin Alawi bin Abdullah and European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton stand at background. (Photo: AP)
US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Vienna to join nuclear talks with world powers and was due to meet Iran's foreign minister Thursday evening ahead of a final round of talks before a 24 November deadline for reaching an agreement, the US State Department said.
"On arrival in Vienna tonight, Secretary Kerry will meet with the US delegation before having a trilateral meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister (Mohammad Javad) Zarif and Baroness (Catherine) Ashton," the former EU foreign policy chief chairing the talks, it said.
Meanwhile, the new EU foreign affairs Chief Federica Mogherini urged Iran to compromise in tense talks on its nuclear programme Thursday, saying Tehran must take a "strategic decision" to win a landmark deal by next week's deadline.
"This is the time for Iran to take the strategic decision to open the way for a historic and final settlement of the nuclear issue," said Mogherini, whose predecessor Catherine Ashton has stayed on as the EU's negotiator for the talks.
Russia's chief negotiator told Russian agency RIA Novosti that the talks are being held in a tense atmosphere and getting a deal will be very difficult,
"In the current situation it will be very difficult to get a deal unless there is a new spirit," Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying. "The talks are being held in a tense atmosphere".
"Time is passing and there are constant meetings in all formats. Perhaps to resolve the problems as they crop up in the talks the delegations need to receive additional instructions" from capitals, he said.
He warned: "A possibility like we have at the moment (to get a deal) is very rare. This is a crucial moment and to let it pass would be a serious mistake with grave consequences."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged world powers and Iran to show flexibility in last-ditch negotiations to reach a deal on addressing concerns over Tehran's nuclear program.
Ban said a deal on Iran's nuclear capacities would contribute to world peace and security "at a time when global cooperation is needed more than ever."
The United Nations is hoping to enlist Iran in international efforts to defeat Islamists now controlling large swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria.
The UN chief called on all sides "to demonstrate the necessary flexibility, wisdom and determination to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion that meets the concerns and interests of all sides."
The United States along with Britain, France, China, Russia plus Germany are hoping to reach a historic deal to ensure Tehran is not able to develop a nuclear weapon, a claim it hotly and repeatedly denied.
*This article was edited by Ahram Online.
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