Thursday, November 21, 2013

Iran and P5+1 struggle on nuclear deal in Geneva

BBC News online -- 21 November 2013

EU Foreign Affairs chief Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, 20 Nov

The consensus on the talks is "useful" but "tough"

World powers and Iran are locked in difficult talks in Geneva as they struggle to secure an interim deal on Tehran's nuclear programme.

Iran spoke of "serious issues" that must be resolved, while one Western diplomat cited "considerable gaps".

A key Iranian negotiator said he did not think a deal would be concluded on Thursday, and it is unclear if foreign ministers will join the talks.

The deal could see Iran curb uranium enrichment for some sanctions relief.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but some world powers suspect it is seeking a nuclear weapons capability.

Negotiating positions for interim deal

P5+1 wants Iran to:

Halt uranium enrichment to medium level of purity, or 20%
Reduce concentration of existing stockpile of 20%-enriched uranium or convert it to oxide form
Not allow Arak heavy-water reactor to go into operation
Commit to permitting more inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Iran wants the P5+1 to:

Recognise its "right" to enrich uranium
End international and unilateral sanctions

The Geneva talks, which are scheduled to conclude on Friday, involve Iran and representatives of the P5+1 - the US, UK, France, China and Russia, plus Germany.

After an afternoon session, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was quoted by the Mehr news agency as saying: "I do not think the negotiations will reach a conclusion tonight."

Mr Araqchi said talks had been "useful" but that "serious issues remain a source of difference".
Of the prospects for Friday, he added: "One cannot judge about tomorrow."

One senior Western diplomat told Reuters: "Considerable gaps remain, and we have to narrow the gaps. Some issues really need to be clarified. I sensed a real commitment... from both sides. Will it happen? We will see. But, as always, the devil is in the details."

One US source said simply: "It is very hard."

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told France 2 television: "This deal will only be possible if it has a firm base."

However, one diplomat told Reuters there was still a "very high probability" that foreign ministers would join the talks at some point.

Benjamin Netanyahu (left, with Vladimir Putin), 20 Nov

Benjamin Netanyahu (left, with Vladimir Putin): "I promise you that [Iran] will not have nuclear weapons"

All seven parties of the P5+1 and Iran held talks on Thursday afternoon and more bilateral meetings took place after that.
The sides failed to agree a deal at a previous round of talks earlier this month.

The US has said an interim agreement would see the bulk of international and US sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme remain in place.

The essence of the deal would involve Iran making no more advances in its nuclear programme and agreeing to "more vigorous inspections" in return for "a very modest amount of relief".

Concerns about the heavy-water reactor Iran is building at Arak were one of the factors that prevented agreement at the first round.

Iran's insistence on formal recognition of its right to enrich uranium was another.

As talks opened on Wednesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran would not step back "one iota" from what he said were its nuclear rights.

He also referred to Israel as a "rabid dog".

Israel has vehemently opposed the proposed deal and says it will not be obliged to honour it.
PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in Moscow, said: "He called Jews 'rabid dogs' and said that they were not human. The public responded to him with calls of 'Death to America! Death to Israel!'
"Doesn't this sound familiar to you? This is the real Iran. We are not confused. They must not have nuclear weapons. And I promise you that they will not have nuclear weapons."

In Washington on Thursday, US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said it would move to impose new sanctions on Iran in December if the nuclear talks failed.