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Iran: Nuclear Talks Resume – Some Progress Made
According to the Iranian Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, the talks to reach a deal on Iran’s nuclear program will resume in Geneva next week after “some progress in certain aspects” will eventually be made. There is however a long way to reach a final agreement. The statement of the Foreign Minister came after a meeting with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry.
Iran, along with other six international powers are aiming to reach a framework agreement in March and a final deal is underway by the 30th of June. Mr. Zarif stated that the talks between Tehran and Washington were useful, constructive and serious. The talks were part of the latest round of Iran’s negotiations with the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.
These five negotiating partners are pressing Tehran to shrink its ability to produce nuclear fuel by enriching uranium and dispose much of the fuel to weapons-grade level. It seems that at the center of the talks there is an effort to push back Iran’s activities so that they will be at least a year from amassing enough nuclear fuel for a bomb. It is known that in return, tight international sanctions on Iran will be lifted with the passing of time. Iran states that its program is entirely peaceful. Both sides argued that the expansion of the negotiations to other top-level officials signaled their determination to cut through the remaining, even though complex issues are still standing in the way of an agreement.
On the other hand, the Congressional Democrats have said that they won’t vote any new Iranian legislation before March 24. If negotiators will be able to hammer out a framework agreement laying out the major points of a final deal before then, the White House might be able to persuade Congress not to pass legislation that might jeopardize the talks while it is known that there is still a chance of success.
However, few details of the negotiations emerged, but it seems that the approaching deadline has caused divisions between the United States and one of its closest allies, Israel, which has called the talks “dangerous” and “astonishing”. In the end, the United States has accused Israel of distorting Washington’s position.
Sources:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31594091
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/23/us-iran-nuclear-idUSKBN0LR0ST20150223
