In Vienna, a very mixed assessment of discussions on Iranian nuclear power
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi shows the inside of an "IAEA camera" housing during a press conference in Vienna, Austria, Friday December 17, 2021. AP - Michael Gruber
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The goal of the agreement being negotiated in Vienna is well known: it is to revive the 2015 agreement which guaranteed the civilian character of Iran's nuclear program, in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
In recent days, some progress seems to have been made, but without allaying all concerns.
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“
We don't have months ahead of us, rather weeks, to strike a deal
,” said European diplomat Enrique Mora on Friday, December 17 in Vienna, Austria, where a new discussion session was held on the Iranian nuclear power plant.
However, discussions will take a break in Vienna: the Iranian negotiator is expected in Tehran for consultations.
The worried West
Negotiations in recent weeks have involved Iran, China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and Germany.
The United States is also present in Vienna, but for indirect discussions since it left the agreement (and reinstated sanctions against Tehran) during Donald Trump's tenure.
On the western side, we deplore the little progress made since the resumption of dialogue at the end of November in the Austrian capital.
“
Iran's nuclear program has never been as advanced as it is today.
It is essential that Iran refrains from any further escalation
”, explains a diplomatic source, regretting that there is“
very little space
”for negotiation.
►
See also: Nuclear: Iran agrees with the IAEA to replace cameras in Karaj
However, concrete progress has been recorded in recent days on the sidelines of the discussions: Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have reached an agreement on the resumption of surveillance - by cameras - of one of the sites. Iran's nuclear program.
Raphaël Grossi is the director of the IAEA: “
I mentioned it, in full, in my reports: I was very worried about the risk of losing essential information ...
To respond to these concerns, the first thing to do is put the cameras back in place.
This is what we are going to do and it is very important!
"
Doubts remain
The International Atomic Energy Agency, however, expresses its "
doubts
" because some data recorded by these cameras have disappeared.
According to Iran, this is the consequence of sabotage that Tehran attributes to Israel.
In addition, information recorded by IAEA cameras will remain in Iran's possession until a new international agreement is concluded.
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