Iran's foreign minister says new nuclear deal "has never been closer"

A deal on nuclear policy that would release Iran from sanctions could be reached in a matter of hours, if western powers seize the opportunity, the Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has told Euronews.

Amir-Abdollahian told The Global Conversation that Tehran had showed flexibility and seriousness in negotiations with the West over its nuclear policy.

But he also warned some red lines remained.

“So far, we’ve taken lots of initiatives and shown the required flexibility at the Vienna negotiating table,” he said. “We’re saying very clearly to them that ‘now it is your turn’. It is time to see initiatives and flexibility from the western side.”

Amir-Abdollahian also said a prisoner exchange was on the table - if the West is ready to take up the offer.

“We’ve announced that we’re ready, either outside the Vienna talks or alongside them, to exchange prisoners when the other side is ready,” he said. “We consider this to be a 100% humanitarian issue. We don’t see any necessity to link this humanitarian dossier to the Vienna Talks.”

And he told Iranians living abroad that they can have confidence about returning home without fear of being detained, under a new web-based vetting system.

“Just by sharing very limited information about themselves, any Iranian can ask us at the Foreign Ministry whether they’ll be able to travel without any problems,” he said. “We will respond within a maximum of 10 days in full coordination with the judiciary and security sectors, and we are responsible for our response.”

Babak Kamiar, Euronews: This is your first interview in Farsi with Foreign Media and we’re happy to have you with us

Minister, Can you please tell us clearly and briefly about what you call Iran’s “seriousness” in the