BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – Iran must show more flexibility in order to solve its nuclear energy issue and actual progress may be seen next week, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond announced before an EU Council meeting on foreign relations in Luxembourg.


"There will need to be some more flexibility shown by our Iranian partners if we are going to reach a deal, but, look, this is a negotiation, we always expected it would go right to the line and maybe beyond the line so I think the serious negotiation is now getting underway and over the next week or so I hope we will start to see some real progress," Hammond told journalists, as he arrived at the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

Hammond also confirmed that he would meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif later on Monday.

The West has repeatedly accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear program, imposing several rounds of sanctions against it.

In April, Iran and P5+1 group, comprising the United States, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and Germany, reached a political framework deal on the Iranian nuclear program.

The negotiators have until June 30 to reach a comprehensive deal ensuring the peaceful nature of Tehran’s nuclear program and a gradual lifting of the sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

The P5+1 group and Iran are set to resume consultations on the issue in Vienna on June 24-25, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who is Russia’s envoy to the talks, said last Friday.

By Sputnik