Brussels, 22/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 19 July, a high level western diplomat said that the election of Iran's new President Hassan Rohani could be the “opportunity” to make progress in the negotiations on the nuclear programme. He expected “a change in tone” from the Iranians even if the new government had to be judged “by its actions”.
The E3+3 group is expecting a great deal from the new president. Rohani “has a particular interest in the nuclear issue and he knows a lot about it because it is at the heart of his work. We expect him to be more closely involved than his predecessor”, the diplomat stated. Rohani was chief negotiator on nuclear issues between 2003 and 2005, and has followed the issue for over 20 years.
“We are ready to have a new round of negotiations as soon as possible and we hope that the new Iranian negotiating team will soon be ready”, the diplomat said. The negotiations will not resume before the appointment of the new government on 4 August - perhaps in September. In mid-July, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton spoke of the EU's desire to meet the new Iranian negotiating team “as soon as possible” (see EUROPE 10890).
The Iranians also have expectations. The international sanctions against the country are having a strong impact on Iran's economy. “Rohani promised the Iranians that a relaxation in sanctions could be achieved and he is now faced with expectations on this objective”, the diplomat stated. In the diplomat's view, “the result of the Iranian election and the electoral campaign have shown that our sanctions are having an impact”.
Time is short. “The E3+3 is concerned at the continuing expansion of Iranian nuclear activities, including those linked to plutonium. The construction of the Arak heavy water reactor is moving apace. According to the latest report from the IAEA, the reactor could be operational from mid-2014”, the diplomat observed. And he said that Iran is also very carefully watching what is happening in its neighbourhood, in Egypt and Syria. (CG/transl.fl)