Iran’s Government has made another public push for a nuclear deal with the 5+1 Powers, with both President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif issuing high-profile statements on Sunday.
Rouhani’s office put out Tweets of the President’s engagement with China, one of the 5+1:




Hassan Rouhani @HassanRouhani
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China's role critical & effective in reaching a comprehensive #nuclear deal. ~meeting with the #Chinese FM, Wang Yi.



8:05 PM - 15 Feb 2015




Rouhani restated, “A final nuclear deal is well within reach should counterparts display sufficient political will.” He also praised Iranian-Chinese relations which “would help establish and maintain stability and peace in Asia, especially in the Middle East, countering terrorism and violence”.

Iran and the 5+1 (US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China) face a July 1 deadline for a comprehensive settlement, after two deadlines were missed last year. Both sides have said there will be no further extension if an agreement is not reached.

Despite intensive talks in the last month, the two sides appear to be no closer on resolution of issues such as Iran’s centrifuges for uranium enrichment, the lifting of US-led sanctions, and the duration of an agreement.

Last week, the Supreme Leader called for an agreement, with compromises on both sides, but said it must be a “one-stage”, final resolution. The US Government had indicated that it would seek agreement on General Principles by the end of March, with the comprehensive deal following by July 1.

On Sunday, Foreign Minister Zarif appealed to Europe to bring the Americans towards the Iranian position.

Speaking after a meeting with Norwegian diplomat Wegger Christian Strømmen, Zarif declared, “Europe can assume a major role in this process and substantially contribute to the clinching of a comprehensive agreement and the lifting of sanctions.”

Iran wants US and European sanctions on Tehran’s oil and banking sectors must be lifted within six months of a deal. Washington has reportedly said that the process will take “years”.

By EA WorldView