(VOVworld) – Germany and Iran share the understanding that negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program have entered a decisive phase, said Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Irainian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks on Jan 15 (photo: AFP)

Steinmeier told reporters after Thursday talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Berlin that agreement deadline has been postponed twice and there is no excuse to continue postponing. He said Iran's path to nuclear weapons must end unambiguously, verifiably and permanently, and in return sanctions must be lifted credibly and step-by-step.

Zarif said Iran needs to seize the opportunity to achieve justice, peace and security, praising the role of Germany in pushing forward the nuclear talks. Zarif later met EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in Brussels to discuss the nuclear talks and issues in Syria and Iraq.