Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underscored that political and not technical difficulties have prevented striking a final agreement with the world powers.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underscored that political and not technical difficulties have prevented striking a final agreement with the world powers, FNA reported.

Zarif told the Kyodo News on Thursday that the remaining difficulties in the talks were not technical anymore and were political, urging the West to make a political decision.

“Sanctions and an agreement don’t go together,” he said, adding, “We have a very clear mandate that all sanctions must go.

The Iranian foreign minister stressed the importance of creating a verification mechanism to secure the implementation of the agreement.

“If there is an agreement and our parliament approves, Iran is accepting to abide by even more stringent international controls,” he said.

The Iranian foreign minister was in Montreux, western Switzerland, for three-day nuclear talks through Wednesday with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

His remarks came after representatives of Iran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) wrapped up deputy-level negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program in the city of Montreux, Switzerland.

The talks are expected to resume March 15 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Both Iran and the G5+1 negotiators have underlined that cutting a final deal before the July 10 deadline is possible.