LONDON – Five world powers agreed with Iran on Friday to forge ahead withnegotiations with the country and maintain its ability to export gas andoil as they seek to preserve a nuclear deal with Tehran despite thewithdrawal of the United States.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told reporters thattop diplomats from Germany, Britain, France, Russia and China reaffirmedtheir commitment to the 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan ofAction, “which is in the security interest of all”.

“The participants recognised that, in return for the implementation by Iranof its nuclear-related commitments, the lifting of sanctions, including theeconomic dividends arising from it, constitutes an essential part of theJCPOA,” Mogherini told reporters after the meeting.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said he would convey “deeperexplanation” observed at the Vienna meeting to Tehran.

“We prefer to continue to stay in the nuclear deal,” he told reporters.”But the final decision will be made in Tehran.” Still, he called themeeting “one step forward.”

“The concerns, which we had last night and which were also expressed byPresident Hasan Rouhani, were addressed in the meeting and more detailswere disclosed, and they make us more optimistic than we were yesterday,”he said.