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Iran envoy: ‘Main issues’ settled as nuclear talks shift to technical points Talks on Iran’s nuclear future resume, with focus on technical matters
(about 2 hours later)
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — A top Iranian envoy suggested Tuesday that “main issues” have been cleared in nuclear talks and a framework on a possible deal could be reached before an end-of-month deadline. LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Iranian and American negotiators on Tuesday tackled some complex technical issues related to Iran’s nuclear program, but officials continued to speak of wide differences, dimming the prospects for an agreement this week.
The upbeat assessment by Iran’s nuclear chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, contrasted sharply with far more cautious statements from U.S. and European officials on progress toward an accord to limit Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for easing crippling international sanctions. Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met for about six hours on Tuesday, together with teams of experts, including nuclear physicists and specialists in sanctions and arms control.
But Salehi’s comments indicate — at least from the Iranian side — a sense that months of often-difficult bargaining have pushed into a new stage. A senior Obama administration official said some difficult issues still lie ahead as negotiators try to reach an agreement by March 31 on the outlines of a deal to limit Iran’s nuclear program and ease sanctions. A final deal is to be completed by late June.
“The main issues have been closed,” Salehi told Iranian state TV, according to news reports. “We have definitely made progress in terms of identifying technical options for each of the major areas,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity under ground rules for briefing reporters. “There is no way around it. We still have a ways to go.”
Agreement on at least one “final item” still was unresolved, he said without giving details. But he noted that “things were clear” on so-called “technical issues” on how to implement a possible pact.
“Of course, there are many details. But I can say that, as a whole, I am optimistic” about a deal before the self-imposed March 31 deadline, Salehi said from Lausanne.
More restrained views have been expressed by U.S. and European officials as the latest round of talks moved into a second day.
A senior Obama administration official said some difficult issues still lie ahead as the sides try to reach the general outlines of a deal — which could still face stiff a backlash from Republican lawmakers in Washington who seek a voice in the negotiations.
“We have definitely made progress in terms of identifying technical options for each of the major areas,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity under ground rules for briefing reporters. “There is no way around it. We still have a ways to go.”
Similar assessments have been made for months now, and there are no indications that the negotiators are preparing to wrap things up in the coming days.
[Read: Crunch time for talks][Read: Crunch time for talks]
Secretary of State John F. Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, following up on almost five hours of talks on Monday, returned to the negotiating table around 8 a.m. Tuesday. But the head of Iran’s nuclear agency was more upbeat, expressing optimism that the self-imposed March 31 deadline would be met.
It is uncertain whether any of the foreign ministers in the other five countries negotiating with Iran — Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia — have made plans to come to Lausanne this week. Ali Akbar Salehi, a nuclear engineer who trained at MIT, said that only “one essential item” remained on the table.
Such visits would be a clear signal that an agreement was near. Kerry has commitments in Washington early next week, and Zarif is expected to return to Iran on Friday on the eve of Nowruz, the Persian new year that is one of the most important holidays in Iran. “I can say, as a whole, I am optimistic,” he told reporters in Lausanne, without providing specifics.
The American and Iranian negotiating teams — while led by Kerry and Zarif — are now filled with technical experts including nuclear physicists and specialists in sanctions and arms control. His assessment was even more positive in remarks to Iranian state TV. “The main issues have been closed,” he said.
For the last three rounds of talks, Kerry has been joined by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, who previously headed the physics department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was a young teacher when Salehi was at MIT working toward his PhD in nuclear engineering. Their paths never crossed in Cambridge, however. But negotiators have reported progress at each round of talks over several months now, and there are no indications that the negotiators are preparing to wrap things up in the coming days.
The negotiators are juggling various formulas for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program. A key element is bolstering advance-warning systems to detect possible breaches by Iran, such as amassing materials needed to build a nuclear warhead. The foreign ministers of the other five countries negotiating with Iran — Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia — are on standby to come to Lausanne this week, but it is uncertain whether they will be called. If they come, it would be a clear signal that an agreement was near.
Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is only for the peaceful production of energy and medical isotopes. Meanwhile, Kerry has commitments in Washington early next week, and Zarif is expected to return to Iran on Friday on the eve of Nowruz, the Persian new year.
The United States has built a series of models that it uses to check whether each option meets the test of providing at least a one-year notice of any possible violations. U.S. officials have cautioned that even if a tentative agreement is reached on many details, the remaining differences could scuttle the chances for a final deal. The talks are now in a highly technical stage, as the sides juggle various formulas for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.
In the last three rounds of talks, Kerry has been joined by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, who previously led the physics department at MIT and was a young teacher when Salehi was there working toward his PhD in nuclear engineering. Their paths never crossed in the Cambridge, Mass., campus, however.
Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is only intended for the peaceful production of energy and medical isotopes. But the United States and its negotiating partners want to ensure that Iran does not have the capability of amassing enough fissile materials to make a nuclear warhead. The United States is aiming to have a one-year “breakout” period, the time Iran would need to start building a bomb. Officials say that is double what many experts consider necessary.
To that end, the United States has built models to check whether each option meets the test of providing at least a one-year notice of any possible violations.
[Read: Fact-checking Obama’s reference to “unprecedented” nuclear inspections]
The senior administration official said the other countries negotiating alongside the United States also have run their own models, producing similar results. It is unclear what Iranian research shows.The senior administration official said the other countries negotiating alongside the United States also have run their own models, producing similar results. It is unclear what Iranian research shows.
[Fact-checking Obama’s reference to “unprecedented” nuclear inspections ] “We are always looking at making sure any combination of options viewed as viable offsets our red line of a year breakout,” the official said. “A lot of things are linked. If something is given here, it’s got to be offset somewhere else.”
“We are always looking at making sure any combination of options viewed as viable offsets our redline of a year breakout,” he said, referring to the time calculated as necessary to amass enough material needed to start building a bomb, if Iran decided to do so. “A lot of things are linked. If something is given here, it’s got to be offset somewhere else.”
Another hurdle is deciding the pace at which sanctions would be eased if Iran meets its commitments and allows more rigorous compliance visits by international nuclear inspectors. Iran is under separate sets of sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union and the United Nations.Another hurdle is deciding the pace at which sanctions would be eased if Iran meets its commitments and allows more rigorous compliance visits by international nuclear inspectors. Iran is under separate sets of sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union and the United Nations.
The United States and its European allies want sanctions eased gradually, while Iran is pushing for quicker relief.The United States and its European allies want sanctions eased gradually, while Iran is pushing for quicker relief.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday that his country would continue to produce more oil and gas despite Western sanctions. On Monday, Iran’s oil minister said the country was prepared to export up to 1 million more barrels of oil a day once sanctions are lifted, though that is not considered enough to have a large impact on oil prices. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday that his country would continue to produce more oil and gas despite Western sanctions. On Monday, Iran’s oil minister said the country was prepared to export up to 1 million more barrels of oil a day once sanctions are lifted, though that is not considered enough to have a large effect on oil prices.
Murphy reported from Washington. Daniela Deane in Rome contributed to this report. Read more:
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