Western powers pledge unity in Iran nuclear talks

London, Mar 22: Western powers have played down reports of discord in their ranks and affirmed their "unity of purpose" in the Iran nuclear talks, urging the Islamic Republic to take "difficult decisions".

The British, French, German and US foreign ministers noted "substantial progress" in the discussions with Tehran, which are due to resume next week, but said there was still no agreement on some "important issues".

"We will all continue to work together with unity of purpose," read a joint statement following the talks in London, adding: "Now is the time for Iran, in particular, to take difficult decisions".

Iran and six world powers are in negotiations to clinch a landmark deal that would have the country scale back its controversial nuclear programme in return for relief from sanctions. In Tehran, President Hassan Rouhani struck an upbeat tone saying that "an agreement is possible".

"There is nothing that cannot be resolved," the official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying. The foreign ministers' gathering in London comes a day after the latest talks between Iran and the so-called P5+1 group -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany -- ended without a breakthrough. US Secretary of State John Kerry, Britain's Philip Hammond, France's Laurent Fabius, Germany's Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the EU's Federica Mogherini said they were "equally committed".

"Any solution must be comprehensive, durable and verifiable. None of our countries can subscribe to a deal that does not meet these terms," they said.

AFP