Big powers resumed talks today on a preliminary agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear programme with the United States warning it would be «very hard» to clinch a breakthrough deal this week and Tehran citing «red lines».
Keen to end a long standoff and head off the risk of a wider Middle East war, the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany came close to winning concessions from Tehran on its nuclear activity in return for some sanctions relief at negotiations in Geneva earlier this month.
Policymakers from the six nations have since said an interim accord on confidence-building steps could finally be within reach, despite warnings from diplomats that serious differences persist and could still thwart an agreement.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the remaining gaps were narrow. «It is the best chance for a long time to make progress on one of the gravest problems in foreign policy,» he told a news conference during a visit to Istanbul.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier: «We hope the efforts that are being made will be crowned with success at the meeting that opens today in Geneva.»
But a senior U.S. official appeared more cautious, telling reporters: «I think we can (get a deal), whether we will, we will have to see because it is hard. It is very hard … If it was easy to do, it would have been done a long time ago.»
The official, with an eye to strong sceptics of deal-making with Iran, including Israel and hawks in the US Congress, said the vast majority of sanctions would remain intact after any initial pact and Washington would «vigorously» implement them.
Western governments suspect Iran has enriched uranium with the covert aim of developing the means to fuel nuclear weapons, which Tehran denies. Refined uranium is used to run nuclear power stations – Iran’s stated goal – but cam also constitute the core of a nuclear bomb, if enriched to a high degree.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech as Western negotiators gathered in the Swiss city that the Islamic Republic would not step back from its nuclear rights and he had set «red lines» for his envoys in Geneva.
He added, according to his official website: «We want to have friendly relations with all nations and peoples. The Islamic system isn’t even hostile to the nation of America, although with regards to Iran and the Islamic system, the American government is arrogant, malicious and vindictive.»
Khamenei also criticised France, which spoke out against a draft deal floated at the Nov. 7-9 round, for «succumbing to the United States» and «kneeling before the Israeli regime». France said the comments were unacceptable.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald