Brussels, 18/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 17 November, France's President François Hollande said that France, with its E3+3/5+1 partners (Germany, UK, China, US and Russia), has four requirements for an interim agreement with Iran on its nuclear programme. Further negotiations are planned in Geneva on 20-22 November (see EUROPE 10961).
Visiting Israel, Hollande said that “France is for an interim agreement, but on four conditions - putting all the Iranian nuclear facilities under international control from now on (…) suspending (uranium) enrichment at 20% (…) reducing the existing stock. And lastly, stopping the construction of the Arak power station”. “These are the points that are essential for us as a guarantee for an agreement”, he added, stating that these points seem to him to be “the four requirements that we, the 5+1, have set together”. Hollande said that, during the negotiations on 7-9 November, “there was progress [which was] undeniable but not sufficient”.
By way of response, Iran's President Hassan Rohani said on 18 November that “good progress was made during our recent negotiations in Geneva, but everyone must be of the mind that the excessive requirements can complicate the process for a win-win agreement”. (CG/transl.fl)