LAUSANNE, Switzerland
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has compared ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran to climbing to the top of the Swiss Alps.
His comments on Saturday came after delegates from Iran, the U.S., U.K., China, France, Russia and Germany -- dubbed P5+1 -- resumed negotiations on March 26 over Iran's nuclear program and sanctions which have crippled the economy.
The talks had recently been ramped up amid concerns that a failure to produce a framework deal before March 31 could jeopardize any positive outcome of a final agreement, due by July 1.
Steinmeier said: "After 10-12 years of negotiations, we have are close to the endgame.
“The possible agreement with Iran will contribute to the region’s peace.”
- Intense pressure
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told reporters as he arrived at the meeting: "Iran has a right to a peaceful nuclear program but it does not have the right to have an atomic bomb.
"I came here with the aim of reaching a solid agreement. Therefore, the content of the possible agreement is more important than the calendar."
The P5+1 have claimed Iran is developing nuclear weapons and want its program curbed in return for the lifting of sanctions.
Tehran insists its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.
The deal sought by the six-member group would have Iran accept limits on its uranium enrichment capacity and would allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspections without interference.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in the U.S. have intensified their pressure on President Barack Obama about the nuclear talks.
On Monday, 367 members of the U.S. House of Representatives wrote a letter to Obama, saying any agreement with Iran over its nuclear program had to be approved by Congress.
