Iran ready for long term deal: FM

MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 2 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said here on Sunday that Iran was ready for a long term deal on its nuclear program, and trust between Iran and western countries must be rebuilt.

"It will be foolish for us to only bargain for six months. That will be a disaster for every body," said Zarif in a panel discussion in the last day of Munich Security Conference.

He said Iran would attend the next round of negotiations scheduled to be held on Feb. 18 in Vienna with P5+1 group, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany, with "political will" and "good faith".

Zarif met U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and ministers from some P5+1 countries on Sunday morning at the sideline of the conference.

"I had a good meeting this morning," he said.

The minister said Iran and the western countries were at a "historical crossroad", and there is an opportunity for "a balanced solution" that parties need to seize.

Zarif said there was a problem of mistrust between Iran and western countries. "Iranians believe with good reasons that the West want to deprive Iran of its ability to have access to technology."

He accused that sanctions from western countries were illegal and were not effective while creating resentment in Iran.

Iran reached an interim deal with P5+1 group in November last year, agreeing to suspend part of its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief from western countries.

The deal started to be implemented on Jan. 20.