Russia sees ‘political will’ for Iran nuclear accord: official

Russia signaled Friday that a deal could be clinched in Iran nuclear negotiations, as there is “political will” and a sense of urgency among participants for an accord before a July 20 deadline.

“One feels political will of the participants, and a certain fear that we may not be quick enough — that is a good sign in this situation. There is not much time left. But there are chances,” Russia’s deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told Kommersant newspaper.

The most recent round of the negotiations is “different from the previous in that there is some static energy being accumulated that will have to be freed and turn into kinetic energy,” he added.

The so-called P5+1 talks are now in the decisive final stretch as Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council seek to reach an accord before a July 20 deadline to ease fears of Tehran obtaining nuclear weapons. In exchange, punishing sanctions on Iran would be lifted.

Ryabkov said that Moscow’s current standoff with the West over the crisis in Ukraine will not hurt talks over Iran’s nuclear programme.

“In my opinion, there is no grounds for worrying that the situation surrounding Ukraine will be the bomb set under the talks over Iran’s nuclear programme, that it will prevent them from proceeding effectively,” he said.