On a day when the temperature in Vienna matched the heat of the talks between Iran and six world powers, Mohammad Javad Zarif found time to enjoy the warmth of the sun on the balcony of his suite. Iran’s foreign minister seemed to be saying July 2 that he was in no hurry and was happy to sit back and enjoy the weather.

Two days earlier, on June 30, I met Zarif for almost an hour and half. It was an opportunity to understand the real situation, how things are progressing, and whether it will still be possible to see him and his counterparts put pen on paper in the coming days. While most of what was said in that session remains off the record, there were a few things that can be shared to clarify what is happening and make it easier to understand what Iran’s top negotiator thinks about one of the most decisive challenges in his life.

According to Zarif, engaging with the six world powers was a strategic decision taken by Iran, which is ready to see it through to the end. He explained how his commitment helped him keep his patience, even when it was sorely tried, and how he might have reacted differently had the issue not been of such importance to his country and the region.

When asked about the red lines set by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and whether they made reaching a deal impossible, Zarif replied, “Nothing the supreme leader said is new; this is the persistent position of Iran from the day we started the negotiations.” On the first day of negotiations, the supreme leader’s account on Twitter posted a picture of Zarif and his team along with a tweet that read, “I recognize our negotiators as trustworthy, committed, brave and faithful.” When recalling the post, Zarif gave a happy smile and said, “This picture is in Natanz, along with the team; the leader’s support is very important for our team.”