The sixth round of Vienna negotiations aimed at reviving the Iranian nuclear agreement ended, amid optimism expressed by the Iranian, European and Russian delegations, that an agreement would be reached, while US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan seemed more cautious, and indicated that many major issues are still outstanding.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that there is still a long way to go in the Vienna negotiations, before resolving a number of key issues, including sanctions and nuclear commitments, that Iran must undertake, following the statements of the chief Iranian negotiator, Abbas Araqchi, He confirmed that an agreement would be reached.
In an interview with ABC, Sullivan added that his country’s top priority is to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
In another interview with “Fox News”, Sullivan said that the Iranian Supreme Leader will decide whether Iran will accept restrictions on its nuclear program, commenting on Ibrahim Raisi’s victory in the presidential elections in Iran.
He added that his country wants to re-impose restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in accordance with the original agreement, and then negotiate a comprehensive and stronger agreement.
Final decision
The chief Iranian negotiator, Abbas Araqchi, said that Sunday is the last day of the sixth round of nuclear negotiations in Vienna, and it is time for the opposite parties to take the final decision.
Araqchi added that during this stage the delegations are closer than ever to achieving a common understanding, stressing that some of the main points have been resolved, and that the features of the remaining points of contention have become clear to everyone.
He pointed out that the negotiations will stop and the delegations will return to their capitals, and this time the return will not only be for consultation; It will be to make the decision. He added that the Joint Committee of the Nuclear Agreement will hold its last meeting today within the framework of the sixth round, and what was negotiated during this round will be discussed.
As for the representative of the European Union in the negotiations, Enrique Mora, he said that the current round has made progress, and that the parties are close to an agreement, but they have not yet reached it.
He stressed – in an interview with reporters – that the next round will be held after the delegations return with ideas and instructions on how to reach an agreement.
time is running out
For his part, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said today, Sunday, that Iran and world powers can still reach an agreement to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement, after the presidential elections in Iran resulted in the victory of a conservative president. But he noted that time is running out.
He added – in statements to reporters in Beirut – that reaching an agreement is “very soon”, and it may make the Middle East more secure, and make millions of Iranians feel comfortable after they were exhausted by the financial and oil sanctions, which the United States re-imposed after its withdrawal from the agreement 3 years ago.
In Israel, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the election of Ibrahim Raisi as Iran’s president was a call to the world to wake up and avoid the nuclear deal.
In his speech at the first session of the Israeli government, Bennett said that his government’s position would not change; It is that Israel opposes returning to the nuclear agreement with Tehran, and that Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons.
And the American news website Axios reported that the administration of President Joe Biden stated that it would like to reach an agreement with Iran to return to the 2015 nuclear agreement, before hard-line conservative President Ibrahim Raisi takes office next August, after winning the presidential elections. Yesterday, Saturday.