Vienna talks breathe new life in “political decisions”
Iranian and Western diplomats returned to their homeland on Friday after weeks of talks in Vienna, IRNA reported on Saturday from the French newspaper Le Figaro. Negotiations for the lifting of sanctions and the effective implementation of the UN Security Council have entered a new phase, with France saying the talks “could be fruitful”.
“Participants in the talks will return to their capitals to return next week to consult and receive instructions,” Enrique Mora, the EU co-ordinator and EU envoy to the talks, tweeted at the Coburg Hotel in the Austrian capital.
“After a ‘tight’ period, everyone knows that we have reached the final stage, which requires political decisions,” he said, similar to what was heard from the French, German and British negotiators.
Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, tweeted a similar message, emphasizing “progress” in the negotiation process.
According to the report, Vienna talks on the UN Security Council, which began in April, resumed after a five-month hiatus in late November. The agreement, reached in 2015 between Iran on the one hand and Germany, China, the United States, France, Britain and Russia on the other, offered Tehran to limit its nuclear activities in the face of lifting sanctions. But in 2018, the United States, under President Donald Trump, who deemed the agreement inadequate, broke it and reinstated economic sanctions against Tehran. In response, Iran gradually lifted its restrictions on nuclear activity.
The possibility of a dialogue between the presidents of Iran and France in the coming days
According to Le Figaro, Joe Biden’s rise to power in the United States made it possible to resume talks. The Americans are indirectly involved in the negotiations without meeting with the Iranian side. In such a situation, the EU and other parties play a mediating role.
On Monday, Iran raised the issue of direct talks with the United States for the first time, with the other side quickly declaring that it was ready for “immediate” talks. “As far as we know, Iran has not yet accepted,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Thursday. On the other hand, Washington insists that time is running out due to Tehran’s nuclear activities.
“There are still obstacles, especially with regard to the guarantees that Tehran is asking the United States to ensure the effective lifting of sanctions and the prevention of a new crisis,” Le Figaro said in a report. However, the French presidency said yesterday (Friday) that “transparency and commitment from each side is still needed” on a number of points: “However, there are signs that negotiations are under way. Can be concluded.
Elysee also announced the possibility of talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi in the coming days.
According to the report, Tehran also announced “progress in the right direction” last week, saying “there are still important issues left” that require “political decisions” by the United States. Washington has not commented.
On Thursday, White House’s Middle East coordinator Brett McGregor announced that he was “close to a possible agreement,” the report said. He also did not rule out the possibility of a “failure” of the talks if no political compromise is reached in the coming days and weeks.
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