[caption id="attachment_42267" align="alignright" width="180"] Former European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana[/caption]
Former European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana has expressed optimism that talks between Iran and six world powers will lead to a comprehensive solution to the Wests standoff with the Islamic Republic over the countrys nuclear energy program.
"What has been achieved is more than I expected, and with fewer ups and downs," Solana said during a discussion at the Brookings Institution on Tuesday, adding, "We have to be very tenacious and to keep on working. The challenge is big, but a solution is possible."
Tehran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain - plus Germany wrapped up their latest round of high-level nuclear talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna on April 9.
Negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group are aimed at reaching a final agreement to fully resolve the Wests decade-old dispute over Tehrans nuclear energy program.
Solana further said that the progress in the talks is mainly because of the seriousness shared by Iran and the six countries, adding, This is a negotiation that has as its objective by both sides to secure an agreement."
Iran and the six world powers sealed an interim deal in Geneva on November 24, 2013 to pave the way for the full resolution of the decade-old dispute with Iran over the countrys nuclear energy program. The deal came into force on January 20.
Under the Geneva deal, dubbed the Joint Plan of Action, the six countries have undertaken to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for the Islamic Republic agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period.