After the first talks this week in Vienna about a return to the Iran nuclear agreement of 2015, the Europeans insist that the concrete text work be started as soon as possible.

It was an important step that on Monday, after more than five months of interruption, the representatives of the new Iranian government appeared again for negotiations, said a Western diplomat on Tuesday.

“But we don't have the luxury of spending a whole lap of politeness.

There has to be some serious work going on this week. "

Stephan Löwenstein

Political correspondent based in Vienna.

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The start was not downright disappointing in this regard, but it also did not remove all doubts.

The Iranian side had shown goodwill.

But it has to get down to business.

"If you don't show us this week that you really want to work, we have a problem." Then the basic approach must also be checked.

The European side also said that if one had the impression that concrete progress was being made and that time was not simply running out, then a week more or less would not matter until the final agreement was reached.

Therefore one does not want to set any “artificial deadlines” to the outside world.

But the Iranians have been communicated the expectations.

The talks are about how a return to the terms and conditions of the 2015 agreement, called the JCPOA, would be possible.

The United States withdrew from the agreement, and Iran is no longer complying with any of the conditions or restrictions.

Between April and June of this year, negotiations were held in six rounds - with talks from the EU: Russia, China, Great Britain, France and Germany on the one hand, Iran on the other.

American representatives do not sit at the table, they have to be instructed by the other person.

Now, for the first time, the representatives of the new hardliner government in Tehran are being spoken to, which had initially stipulated a break in negotiations.

What about the centrifuges?

According to Europeans, 70-80 percent of the text had already been negotiated. However, it is still not clear to what extent the negotiators of the new Iranian leadership feel bound by it. "We are waiting for a solid confirmation that the Iranian side is ready to start where we left off in June." The Iranians have recognized the previous work as the "basis", as EU chief diplomat Enrique Mora announced on Monday evening . But at the same time, according to the diplomats of European states, the negotiators of Tehran still refer to the text that has been negotiated so far as a non-binding “draft”.

The European side - Germans, French and British appear as the "E3" group in these Iran talks regardless of Brexit - emphasize that the fundamental concern is also supported by Russian and Chinese colleagues. The talks in the working groups should begin this Wednesday, it is said. "We hope and expect that after so many months of preparation the Iranians will come up with concrete suggestions and offers."

It is clear that the remaining 20-30 percent of the text of a return agreement are the most difficult. According to reports, this includes questions such as what should happen to the modern enrichment centrifuges that Iran has now put into operation: Destroy them or just dismantle and mothball them? The increase in expertise in enrichment to a level that is almost capable of being used in weapons is also considered to be a major problem. Iran now enriches uranium up to 60 percent (the JCPOA allows a maximum of 3.67 percent). Regarding reports that Iran could threaten to take the last step up to 90 percent, one European said that one could enrich non-weapons-grade uranium and negotiate a return to the JCPOA at the same time.

The Europeans have now expressed their willingness to start work with the same intensity as between April and June, from morning to night, and gladly beyond the weekend.

“Nobody has time on their side.” Another Western diplomat said, “We're here to fix it.

The Americans too.

The Iranian government has a very important responsibility for the people and the Iranian economy, and the security of the entire region. "