Indications issued in Vienna are increasing that an agreement is near, with several parties in the talks announcing the imminence of taking decisions on the nuclear program, while Iranian Leader Ali Khamenei stressed that Tehran does not seek to acquire nuclear weapons, but rather needs peaceful nuclear energy.

The latest statements in this regard were made by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who said that the agreement is a few steps away, and that only days are left for a decision on it.

In turn, Chinese delegate Wang Qun said that the talks are in their final stage, and are steps away from a final agreement.

For his part, the chief Iranian negotiator, Ali Bagheri, said that the parties to the negotiations, after weeks of intense talks, are closer than ever to reaching an agreement.

Bagheri stressed that no agreement will be reached in the Vienna negotiations unless this agreement includes everything.

He called on the negotiating parties to be realistic, avoid stubbornness, and benefit from the lessons of the past four years, indicating that it is time to take serious decisions.

critical stage

For his part, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the United States is in the final stages of complex indirect talks with Iran to return to the nuclear agreement.

Describing the talks as being at the critical stage in determining the fate of a return to the agreement, Price added, "We are sincere and decisive in our efforts to test whether a mutual return can be achieved, and we continue to believe it is the best way to impose permanent, verifiable restrictions on Iran's nuclear program."


essential points of contention

The talk of the American and Iranian sides about the nuclear negotiations approaching their conclusion does not eliminate the fact that the remaining distance is no less difficult than what has been achieved.

The American side asserts that there are only weeks left before the opportunity to return to the nuclear agreement is lost, and therefore the failure of the United States to return to the agreement will mean losing the advantages that Washington will provide to the Iranian side.

On the other hand, Tehran considers that the issue of deadlines is merely psychological pressure on it, which will not push it to make concessions, and that this method has proven its failure in the past.

The main point in the Iranian dispute with Washington remains that Tehran wants to lift a large package of sanctions, beyond the maximum package imposed by former President Donald Trump.

However, the Biden administration remains adamant that some non-nuclear sanctions will remain in place, particularly those related to human rights and terrorism.

The Iranian side also demands legal guarantees that prevent any US administration from withdrawing from the nuclear agreement;

However, the Biden administration insists that it cannot secure such a commitment from the US Congress.

In this regard, it should be noted that more than 160 Republican deputies in the House of Representatives sent a letter to Biden yesterday, in which they affirmed that he does not have the authority to provide any guarantee demanded by Iran in this field.

Talks with South Korea

And in an indication of the start of the process of lifting sanctions on Iran, the Central Bank of Iran announced that it is holding talks with South Korea to release the Iranian funds frozen with it due to US sanctions, amounting to 7 billion dollars.

The Iranian bank’s announcement came after another announcement from South Korea about talks being held by an Iranian financial and oil delegation in Seoul, which the US Bloomberg Agency considered Iran’s first step to return to the oil market if sanctions were lifted, knowing that South Korea is a major importer of Iranian light crude.

Khamenei: Tehran needs peaceful nuclear energy

In the same context, the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said that his country does not seek nuclear weapons, but rather the peaceful use of nuclear technology.

In a speech he delivered on the occasion of the commemoration of the uprising in the city of Tabriz, the Iranian guide explained that his country will need peaceful nuclear energy, and that those he called enemies are seeking to prevent Tehran from acquiring this advanced scientific technology.

He added, "The enemies imposed sanctions on us against the background of our nuclear program, and they know that it is a peaceful program and that we do not seek to possess nuclear weapons," and "we must work to thwart the sanctions. on our inner capabilities.