Time to Make A Deal On Iran’s Nuclear Program Is Now, Says Mogherini

Vienna – Time to make a deal on Iran’s nuclear program is now as the conditions for it are ripe, European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini told media representatives in Vienna.

My message is “if there is a time for a deal, it’s now. The issue is that political decisions have to be taken now. We will assess over the next days, if a deal can be closed,” said Mogherini who likened the nuclear negotiation process to a long marathon.

“We are very close to a deal. The atmosphere in the talks is positive and good. I still see the political will to come to an agreement, she added.

Mogherini stressed further work was needed on the technical aspects and that political decisions had to be made to translate into political and technical actions in an agreement.

She also made it clear that there was no plan B for the Iran nuclear talks, should they collapse over the next days.

Salehi and Moniz proceed with debate on technical issues

Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi and the US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz proceeded with discussion on technical issues after Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry ended talks on Sunday.

Salehi and Moniz held negotiations in presence of Iranian and the US teams.

Meanwhile, deputy foreign ministers went ahead with nuclear talks on Sunday.

Following end of expert works, annexes to the context of the deal were handed over to the deputy foreign ministers.

They are currently working on four annexes to remove differences. The main difference is about sanctions and corresponding acts.

Seyed Abbas Araqchi said last night that a number of disputed cases may be referred to the ministers.

He said that the deputy foreign ministers are trying to finalize the context of the deal in the next two days.

On corresponding acts Iran expects the other party to make, Araqchi said that to synchronize the acts with Iran is the Iranian major demand. ‘Iran offered proposals to settle the issue.’

Araqchi said that the principle to synchronize the acts is important for Iran, so Iran is hopeful to reach wise solution.

US still aiming for July 7 deadline, says Kerry

Meanwhile, the United States is still hoping to reach a final comprehensive nuclear agreement by the July 7 deadline, US Secretary of State John Kerry told the press in Vienna on Sunday.

Our goal is to have an agreement by July 7. It’s now time to see whether or not we are able to close an agreement.

Over the past few days we have in fact made genuine progress but I want to be absolutely clear we are not there yet where we need to be on several of the most difficult issues, Kerry said.

The truth is while I completely agree with Foreign Minister Zarif that we have never been closer to an agreement, at this point negotiations could go either way. Hard choices need to be made over the couple of days and they need to be made quickly, Kerry added.

Kerry threatened to walk away from the talks, should Iran show no more compromise on their demands. We want a good and fair agreement, the US chief diplomat reiterated.

Kerry’s comments followed earlier remarks by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi who warned of excessive demands in the nuclear talks.

Iran – West nuclear agreement for sure

In the same context, Director for Nonproliferation Policy at Washington-based the Arms Control Association Kelsey Davenport said on Sunday investment in nuclear talks is vey high, cannot be wasted, and agreement is for sure.

‘The presence of the Iranian foreign minister in the nuclear negotiations has led to a proactive political determination contributing to resolve the outstanding questions to find solutions for the dispute,’ said Ms. Davenport in an interview with IRNA.

She also evaluated the UN nuclear watchdog chief Yukiya Amano’s visit of Tehran of great significance, arguing that the agency plays the very sensitive supervision role and is in charge of final approval that’s why both Iran and the international community must have mutual trust in the IAEA.

She said that the Lausanne Statement is definitely inclusive of ambiguities, one of which is in research and development R&D.

‘At what time can Iran use its advanced centrifuges after the restrictions expire?’ she said referring to one of those ambiguities.

Davenport said that decreasing the low enriched uranium reserves is another issue.

‘Iran has agreed to decrease its reserves to 300 kilograms but it is not clear how Iran will do this. Is Iran going to export the excess amount, or is it going to liquidate, or sell it?’

On research and development, she said that the Americans have a clear stand on the matter.

‘Iran intends to cooperate with the IAEA in the field to ease the international concerns and this is a part of the agency’s duties,’ she said.

The director for Nonproliferation Policy at Washington-based the Arms Control Association said that the US has relatively authentic information about Iran’s past activities and sees no need to get down to details about.

‘Both the US and the five other world powers’ priority is focusing on the future, that’s why they are after proper supervision and approval of peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program,’ added Davenport.

On the agreement on the table, she said that it includes the objective of both sides, arguing that no side will achieve its objective if no agreement is reached.

The American non-proliferation official at the end referred to the time for resuming the severed Iran-US relations, she said that there is no need for resuming of the ties 54 years after being severed as it was the case for the US-Cuba relations.

France hopes for Iran nuclear agreement over next hours

France is still hoping that a nuclear deal can be reached within the next hours, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told the press in Vienna on Sunday.

These talks began 12 years ago and they have to come to a conclusion over the next hours, he said. What matters right now at the negotiation table is whether the Iranians are willing to accept a clear agreement about issues that have yet to be verified, he said.

“I hope we can have a deal which fosters peace and security, however everything has to be verified, the minister added.

France is reportedly viewed as the most hardline member of the six world powers that are negotiating a potentially historic nuclear deal with Tehran over its nuclear program.

 

IRNA

R.S