Vibrant Gujarat Summit: John Kerry aims to make progress on nuclear talks in Iran FM meeting

GANDHINAGAR: Ahead of his meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister in Geneva this week, US Secretary of State John Kerry today said he hopes to accelerate the progress on complex nuclear negotiations.

Kerry, while addressing a press conference here on the sidelines of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, said he will hold talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Geneva on Wednesday, hoping to "accelerate the process to make greater progress."

Iran and six powers -- the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany -- are hoping to agree on a framework by March and a final agreement by June 30 that would address international concerns that Iran is using a civilian atomic energy programme to hide efforts to develop nuclear weapons. A charge Iran vehemently denies.

Under the terms of the interim deal, the US and other nations are providing relief to Iran from sanctions, looking to ease and eventually lift the penalties if Tehran agrees to a final pact and complies with it.

Global powers leading the talks are to meet again at a lower level from January 18 hoping to settle final issues to seal a deal.

Iran's atomic agency chief Ali Akbar Salehi insisted yesterday on Tehran's demands for increased uranium enrichment.