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Iran nuclear deal closer as diplomats gather in Geneva John Kerry flies to Geneva as Iran nuclear deal edges closer
(about 3 hours later)
The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, arrived in Geneva on Friday night to take part in negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme as diplomats said there were just a few outstanding issues preventing a breakthrough. US secretary of state John Kerry is rejoining weekend talks in Geneva over Iran's nuclear weapons programme, amid signs that negotiators are on the verge of a historic peace deal.
Lavrov's spokeswoman said that Lavrov would meet the UN special envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, while in Switzerland, though details of the meeting had yet to be arranged. The main reason for flying to Geneva, she said, was to take part in the Iran talks. Li Baodong, China's deputy foreign minister, also arrived on Friday at the talks venue, a central Geneva hotel. Diplomatic sources in Washington said Kerry flew to Switzerland on Friday afternoon, as hopes rise that remaining disagreements over Iranian enrichment technology and a heavy water reactor capable of producing plutonium are close to being resolved.
There were reports that the US secretary of state, John Kerry, would come for the conclusion of negotiations, but with the outcome in the balance late Friday, the state department could not confirm his movements. "After consulting with EU High Representative [Catherine] Ashton and the negotiating team on the ground, Secretary Kerry will travel to Geneva … with the goal of continuing to help narrow the differences and move closer to an agreement," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.
The flurry of raised expectations came on the third day of the third round of intense and detailed nuclear talks with Iran since the election of the reformist president, Hassan Rouhani, aimed at a deal that would defuse tensions in the Gulf and push back the threat of a new war in the Middle East. If language to limit the use of such technology can be found that is acceptable to Tehran and the group of six international powers leading the talks, negotiators expect to provide limited relief from economic sanctions that would allow further discussions aimed at a permanent end to Iran's nuclear weapons programme.
Hawks in Congress, who side with Israel in suspecting that Iran is being rewarded too readily, have created a brief window of opportunity for such a deal to be struck by agreeing to hold off on further sanctions legislation until after the Thanksgiving holiday. Kerry was criticised by Republicans in Washington after his previous intervention in the Geneva process failed to secure a deal. Those close to US diplomatic strategy expect he would not have returned so soon unless negotiators had arrived at acceptable language.
The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and Li Baodong, China's deputy foreign minister, also arrived on Friday at the talks venue, a central Geneva hotel. Lavrov's spokeswoman said Lavrov would meet the UN special envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, while in Switzerland, though details of the meeting had yet to be arranged. The main reason for flying to Geneva, she said, was to take part in the Iran talks.
The flurry of raised expectations came on the third day of the third round of intense and detailed nuclear talks with Iran since the election of a reformist president, Hassan Rouhani. The talks are aimed at securing a deal that would defuse tensions in the Gulf and push back the threat of a new war in the Middle East.
Diplomats in Geneva said talks had whittled down the number of sticking points to a small handful. There were also unconfirmed reports that one of the most intractable issues, the question of Iran's right to enrich uranium, had been resolved with a form of words in the draft agreement that satisfied both sides.Diplomats in Geneva said talks had whittled down the number of sticking points to a small handful. There were also unconfirmed reports that one of the most intractable issues, the question of Iran's right to enrich uranium, had been resolved with a form of words in the draft agreement that satisfied both sides.
Sources said the most important remaining obstacle was the extent to which work should be allowed to continue at a heavy water reactor in Arak, which would produce plutonium when completed.Sources said the most important remaining obstacle was the extent to which work should be allowed to continue at a heavy water reactor in Arak, which would produce plutonium when completed.
"Yesterday we talked about the issues we don't agree on, and naturally delegations needed to consult their capitals. In some cases, we have had results," the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who leads the country's delegation, said. "In some cases a number of phrases have been added [to the text] and we still need to do some work in other cases. We are dealing with an issue that was the subject of difference for 10 years." "Yesterday we talked about the issues we don't agree on, and naturally delegations needed to consult their capitals. In some cases, we have had results," said the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who leads the country's delegation. "In some cases a number of phrases have been added [to the text] and we still need to do some work in other cases. We are dealing with an issue that was the subject of difference for 10 years."
The draft deal on the table is intended to buy six months for further negotiations aimed at an enduring settlement. Iran would get access to some frozen bank accounts and could start trading again in gold, petrochemicals, vehicle and aeroplane parts. In exchange, Iran would stop or reverse different parts of its nuclear programme. The draft deal on the table is intended to buy six months for further negotiations aimed at an enduring settlement. Iran would get access to some frozen bank accounts and could start trading again in gold, petrochemicals, vehicle and aeroplane parts. In exchange, it would stop or reverse parts of its nuclear programme.
"If Iran does not get wording on the right to enrich, then the deal is unbalanced in the west's favour. They get verifiable limits and roll-back on every single critical element of the Iranian programme, and Iran would just get access to its own money," said Reza Marashi, a former US state department official now at the National Iranian American Council."If Iran does not get wording on the right to enrich, then the deal is unbalanced in the west's favour. They get verifiable limits and roll-back on every single critical element of the Iranian programme, and Iran would just get access to its own money," said Reza Marashi, a former US state department official now at the National Iranian American Council.
According to sources at the talks, a compromise deal on the Arak heavy water reactor had been written into the text of the draft agreement at the last Geneva round that ended on 10 November. Under that compromise, Iran would cease work on making fuel rods but would continue other elements at the long-delayed project. However, on French insistence, the paragraphs on Arak were put back into brackets, meaning they were open to negotiation again. In response, Iran asked for concessions elsewhere to "rebalance the deal". According to sources at the talks, a compromise deal on the Arak heavy water reactor had been written into the text of the draft agreement at the last Geneva talks, which ended on 10 November. Under that compromise, Iran would cease work on making fuel rods but would continue other elements of the long-delayed project. However, on French insistence, the paragraphs on Arak were put back into brackets, meaning they were open to negotiation again. In response, Iran asked for concessions elsewhere, to "rebalance the deal".
Earlier in the day, Britain's ambassador in Washington urged the US Congress not to impose new sanctions on Iran while delicate nuclear negotiations are making progress in Geneva. Earlier in the day, Britain's ambassador in Washington urged Congress not to impose new sanctions on Iran while negotiations are making progress.
"The deal currently under negotiation would be a meaningful first step, immediately improving our national security and that of our partners in the region. This is, therefore, a critical week for diplomacy," Peter Westmacott wrote on the Washington political website The Hill."The deal currently under negotiation would be a meaningful first step, immediately improving our national security and that of our partners in the region. This is, therefore, a critical week for diplomacy," Peter Westmacott wrote on the Washington political website The Hill.
"Many gaps between the parties have been bridged all together; those that remain have narrowed considerably. But further sanctions now would only hurt negotiations and risk eroding international support for the sanctions that have brought us this far.""Many gaps between the parties have been bridged all together; those that remain have narrowed considerably. But further sanctions now would only hurt negotiations and risk eroding international support for the sanctions that have brought us this far."
Earlier on Friday, US secretary of defense Chuck Hagel met with Israeli minister of defense Moshe Ya'alon on the margins of a security conference as part of ongoing efforts to reassure Israel over the direction of the Geneva talks. Pentagon officials said the Iranian nuclear issue was one of a number of topics raised between the two at the conference in Canada, where they also discussed cooperation to provide Israel with new, advanced military capabilities, including the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.
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