Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (second right) arrives for talks in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday.
GENEVA: Iran and six world powers struggled yesterday, after two days of talks, to overcome stumbling blocks to an interim deal under which Tehran would curb its contested nuclear programme in exchange for some relief from economic sanctions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov planned to join the talks in Geneva, a source in Moscow’s delegation said. But there was no sign of ministers from the other five powers - the United States, China, France, Britain and Germany - following suit, something that could signal a deal was imminent.
The six foreign ministers joined intense talks on November 7-9 and came close to winning concessions from Iran they count on to reduce the risk of an Iranian nuclear weapon. Optimism seems to have waned since then as the sides have since Wednesday bogged down in politically vexed details, hampered by stubborn mutual mistrust that has characterised a decade-old standoff with Iran over its nuclear intentions.
They said some progress had been made during the first two days and the number of disagreements reduced. But Iran’s insistence that the six powers explicitly acknowledge its right to enrich uranium — a process which can yield both electricity and nuclear bombs - was proving a formidable obstacle. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Tehran’s chief negotiator, said significant headway had been made. “We are negotiating our differences and we have made considerable progress,” he said. “In some cases we have had results ... but still we have three, four differences.” These included the fate of Iran’s Arak heavy-water reactor project and the extent of sanctions relief, diplomats said.
Policymakers from the six major powers have said an interim accord on confidence-building steps could be within reach to start a cautious process of detente with Iran and douse the spectre of a wider Middle East war. Under discussion is an Iranian suspension of some sensitive nuclear activities, above all medium-level uranium enrichment, in exchange for sanctions relief. That could involve releasing some Iranian funds frozen in foreign bank accounts and allowing trade in precious metals, petrochemicals and aircraft parts.
The United States may also agree to relax pressure on other countries not to buy Iranian oil. Tehran has made clear it wants more significant gestures diluting the stifling superstructure of sanctions blocking its oil exports and use of the international banking and financial system.
The Opec producer rejects suspicions it is covertly try to develop the means to produce nuclear weapons, saying it is stockpiling nuclear material for future atomic power plants.reuters
