Al-Jazeera correspondent in Vienna stated that meetings are continuing today between the various delegations participating in the negotiations to revive the Iranian nuclear agreement, in light of Tehran's insistence on Washington providing guarantees not to withdraw from the agreement again, while the US State Department said that progress has been made in the talks, and that there is no framework time to complete the current negotiating round.
Al-Jazeera correspondent said that the Russian and American delegations held bilateral talks yesterday and today in order to resolve the outstanding issues between the Iranian and American sides regarding the Iranian nuclear program.
He added that other negotiations took place between the European delegations and the American delegation, as well as the negotiations between the various delegations and the Iranian delegation, and the correspondent reported that what is certain is that the sixth round, which is currently taking place in the Austrian capital, will not be the last in a series of negotiations to revive the nuclear agreement.
And the sixth round resumed last Saturday, as part of these negotiations that began since last April, with the meeting of the remaining parties to the agreement, namely Iran, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, in a hotel.
As for the American delegation, it is based in another hotel across the street, as the Iranians refuse to hold direct meetings with their American counterparts.
Russian statements
The Russian delegate to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, said after the talks with the American delegation that there are still difficult issues on the negotiating table, and that reaching a final agreement on the Iranian nuclear file needs some time.
The Russian delegate to international organizations in Vienna said after the talks with the American delegation that there are still difficult issues on the negotiating table, and that reaching a final agreement on the Iranian nuclear file needs some time.
Al-Jazeera correspondent stated that the current complex of negotiations is the guarantees that Iran is requesting not to repeat what happened in the past, which is Washington's withdrawal again from the agreement, which the Biden administration seems ready to offer at the present time.
The chief Iranian negotiator, Abbas Araqchi, said yesterday in statements to Al-Jazeera that his country "has made good and tangible progress on various issues in the Vienna negotiations," and he went on, "Iran has suffered during the past years because of the American withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, and we want to make sure that what happened from the withdrawal (former President Donald) Trump from the agreement, it will not be repeated with any American president in the future.”
Araqchi added that he believes that Iran is closer to an agreement than ever before, but "there are still basic issues that we will negotiate on." The Iranian official denied that the presidential elections in Iran had any impact on the course of the Vienna negotiations, and said, "We are negotiating regardless of our domestic policy." And when we get a good agreement, we will agree to it, otherwise there is no agreement with this government or the next government.”
American side
On the other hand, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that progress has been made in the Vienna talks related to resuming compliance with the nuclear agreement with Iran, and Price added that there have been constructive discussions, pointing out that there are still challenges, stressing that there is no time frame for completing the agreement. The sixth round of talks is currently taking place in Vienna.
Al-Jazeera correspondent in Washington, Muhammad Al-Alami, said that some European sources spoke to the American newspaper The New York Times a few days ago that the recent obstacles to ending the negotiations to return to the Iranian nuclear agreement are of a political nature, and related to providing justifications for each party in order to convince its local public opinion of the reasons for returning to the nuclear agreement .
Al-Jazeera correspondent added that America wants the new agreement on the Iranian nuclear program to stipulate Tehran's acceptance of subsequent negotiations regarding this program, the missile program and the human rights file in Iran, and its role in the region.
The reporter stated that the absence of former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the political decision arena helps to conclude an agreement between Washington and Tehran, because Netanyahu was strongly opposed to the Biden administration's return to the nuclear agreement, considering it a threat to Israel's security, according to him.
It is noteworthy that the Iranian nuclear agreement concluded in 2015 provided for the lifting of international sanctions on Tehran, in return for imposing restrictions on the Iranian nuclear program to ensure its peaceful nature.