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Iran’s Foreign Minister Rejoins Nuclear Talks Iran’s Foreign Minister Rejoins Nuclear Talks
(about 1 hour later)
VIENNA — The Iranian foreign minister rejoined the nuclear talks here Tuesday morning as the United States looked for signs that he had arrived with more flexible negotiating instructions.VIENNA — The Iranian foreign minister rejoined the nuclear talks here Tuesday morning as the United States looked for signs that he had arrived with more flexible negotiating instructions.
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s chief diplomat and lead negotiator, returned from a brief trip to Tehran for consultations with the Iranian leadership and began the day with a one-on-one meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry. The foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s chief diplomat and lead negotiator, returned from a brief trip to Tehran for consultations with the Iranian leadership and began the day with a one-on-one meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry.
As the two diplomats later began a wider meeting that included senior officials on both sides, Mr. Kerry described his private discussion with Mr. Zarif as “a good conversation.”As the two diplomats later began a wider meeting that included senior officials on both sides, Mr. Kerry described his private discussion with Mr. Zarif as “a good conversation.”
Mr. Zarif insisted that he had not returned to Tehran to secure a mandate to complete the accord.Mr. Zarif insisted that he had not returned to Tehran to secure a mandate to complete the accord.
“I didn’t go to get a mandate,” Mr. Zarif said. “I already had a mandate to negotiate, and I am here to get a final deal, and I think we can.”“I didn’t go to get a mandate,” Mr. Zarif said. “I already had a mandate to negotiate, and I am here to get a final deal, and I think we can.”
The negotiators are struggling to complete an accord that would constrain Tehran’s nuclear program for more than a decade in return for sanctions relief. American officials hope to finish the agreement so it can be submitted by July 9 to Congress, which would then begin a 30-day review period.The negotiators are struggling to complete an accord that would constrain Tehran’s nuclear program for more than a decade in return for sanctions relief. American officials hope to finish the agreement so it can be submitted by July 9 to Congress, which would then begin a 30-day review period.
If an accord is finished this summer, the review period would double because of Congress’s summer recess, and the Obama administration is concerned that critics could use the additional time to mobilize opposition against the agreement.If an accord is finished this summer, the review period would double because of Congress’s summer recess, and the Obama administration is concerned that critics could use the additional time to mobilize opposition against the agreement.
The latest round of negotiations began last week under a cloud after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, appeared to back away from central elements of a preliminary accord that was reached two months ago in the Swiss city of Lausanne.The latest round of negotiations began last week under a cloud after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, appeared to back away from central elements of a preliminary accord that was reached two months ago in the Swiss city of Lausanne.
After the United States and its negotiating partners insisted that the Lausanne framework must remain the basis of an agreement, Mr. Zarif flew to Tehran on Sunday night for consultations with his nation’s senior leaders.After the United States and its negotiating partners insisted that the Lausanne framework must remain the basis of an agreement, Mr. Zarif flew to Tehran on Sunday night for consultations with his nation’s senior leaders.
In an indication that the talks are likely to intensify, Mr. Zarif arrived here Tuesday morning with Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, and Hossein Fereydoun, a younger brother of President Hassan Rouhani.In an indication that the talks are likely to intensify, Mr. Zarif arrived here Tuesday morning with Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, and Hossein Fereydoun, a younger brother of President Hassan Rouhani.
Mr. Salehi, who recently underwent surgery, played an important role with Ernest J. Moniz, the United States energy secretary, in negotiating the Lausanne accord.Mr. Salehi, who recently underwent surgery, played an important role with Ernest J. Moniz, the United States energy secretary, in negotiating the Lausanne accord.
In a post on Twitter on Tuesday, Ayatollah Khamenei praised his negotiators as “trustworthy, committed, brave and faithful.”In a post on Twitter on Tuesday, Ayatollah Khamenei praised his negotiators as “trustworthy, committed, brave and faithful.”
Mr. Zarif said when he arrived at the airport here, “I feel the negotiations have reached a very sensitive stage.”Mr. Zarif said when he arrived at the airport here, “I feel the negotiations have reached a very sensitive stage.”
“With political will,” he said, “determination and lots of work, progress is possible.”“With political will,” he said, “determination and lots of work, progress is possible.”
Tuesday had been the deadline for completing the nuclear accord, but negotiators have indicated that they were prepared to keep working over the next week. The talks involve the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany, Iran and Russia.Tuesday had been the deadline for completing the nuclear accord, but negotiators have indicated that they were prepared to keep working over the next week. The talks involve the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany, Iran and Russia.
Mr. Kerry is scheduled to meet here with Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, on Tuesday afternoon.Mr. Kerry is scheduled to meet here with Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, on Tuesday afternoon.