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Iran talks kick off in Geneva Iran talks kick off in Geneva
(about 5 hours later)
The diplomacy has begun in Geneva, almost exactly four years since the last time Iran came close to a deal in the same city to limit its nuclear programme.The diplomacy has begun in Geneva, almost exactly four years since the last time Iran came close to a deal in the same city to limit its nuclear programme.
This time, despite leaden skies and heavy rain, the sense of optimism has returned. A new reformist Iranian government under President Hassan Rouhani with a new mandate has sent a delegation with a set of concrete proposals on how curbs on the nuclear programme could be exchanged for sanctions relief.This time, despite leaden skies and heavy rain, the sense of optimism has returned. A new reformist Iranian government under President Hassan Rouhani with a new mandate has sent a delegation with a set of concrete proposals on how curbs on the nuclear programme could be exchanged for sanctions relief.
Mohammad Javad Zarif, the foreign minister, flew to Geneva despite intense back pain which forced him to spend most of the fligh lying down. Zarif has said that hardliner attacks triggered the spasms that have hobbled him since he returned to Tehran from meeting US secretary of state John Kerry at the UN last month.Mohammad Javad Zarif, the foreign minister, flew to Geneva despite intense back pain which forced him to spend most of the fligh lying down. Zarif has said that hardliner attacks triggered the spasms that have hobbled him since he returned to Tehran from meeting US secretary of state John Kerry at the UN last month.
This morning, Zarif presented a PowerPoint presentation entitled "Closing an unnecessary crisis: Opening new horizons", at the start of a new round of talks - the first substantive nuclear negotiations since Hassan Rouhani's election in June. Zarif's talk was in English, a contrast from his predecessor as chief negotiator, Saeed Jalili, who spoke Farsi almost exclusively. One of the consequences is that the pace of talks, without the need for interpreters, is much faster. There is less to translate too. Zarif is much more concise speaker.This morning, Zarif presented a PowerPoint presentation entitled "Closing an unnecessary crisis: Opening new horizons", at the start of a new round of talks - the first substantive nuclear negotiations since Hassan Rouhani's election in June. Zarif's talk was in English, a contrast from his predecessor as chief negotiator, Saeed Jalili, who spoke Farsi almost exclusively. One of the consequences is that the pace of talks, without the need for interpreters, is much faster. There is less to translate too. Zarif is much more concise speaker.
The PowerPoint presentation took nearly an hour and then there was another hour of discussion before the first session broke up and the six nation group of negotiators (from the US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China), chaired by the EU foreign policy chief, Cathy Ashton, dispersed to study the Iranian proposals.The PowerPoint presentation took nearly an hour and then there was another hour of discussion before the first session broke up and the six nation group of negotiators (from the US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and China), chaired by the EU foreign policy chief, Cathy Ashton, dispersed to study the Iranian proposals.
Zarif left for his hotel without talking to reporters, saying only: "I'm really in pain." The twinges in his back were apparently not the only reminder of the pressures back home. According to one Iranian report, the delegation got an urgent phone call from Tehran just before the talks began, demanding a last-minute change to the Iranian presentation.Zarif left for his hotel without talking to reporters, saying only: "I'm really in pain." The twinges in his back were apparently not the only reminder of the pressures back home. According to one Iranian report, the delegation got an urgent phone call from Tehran just before the talks began, demanding a last-minute change to the Iranian presentation.
Ashton's spokesman, Michael Mann, said the talks began with "cautious optimism and great sense of determination, because we think it is time for tangible results."Ashton's spokesman, Michael Mann, said the talks began with "cautious optimism and great sense of determination, because we think it is time for tangible results."
A senior US official said that the goal in Geneva was progress towards confidence-building measures that would slow down the Iranian nuclear programme to buy time for a more enduring solution. The official said:A senior US official said that the goal in Geneva was progress towards confidence-building measures that would slow down the Iranian nuclear programme to buy time for a more enduring solution. The official said:
To get to a comprehensive agreement is very, very difficult with highly technical issues that have to be resolved. We need to put some time on the clock to rebuild trust...to constrain the programme and even take it back a notch.To get to a comprehensive agreement is very, very difficult with highly technical issues that have to be resolved. We need to put some time on the clock to rebuild trust...to constrain the programme and even take it back a notch.
The US official pointed out that the American delegation included two financial experts to discuss changes to the sanctions regime, so that a quick deal was feasible.The US official pointed out that the American delegation included two financial experts to discuss changes to the sanctions regime, so that a quick deal was feasible.
"If they are ready to go, we are ready to go," the official said.
/> 		"If they are ready to go, we are ready to go," the official said.
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