Brussels, 22/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Saturday 19 July, the foreign affairs leaders of the E3+3 (Germany, France, United Kingdom and China, United States, Russia) and Iran decided to extend the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme until 24 November 2014. The initial deadline was 20 July.
Meeting in Vienna since 2 July, the parties have made progress - but differences of opinion continue to exist. “While we have made tangible progress on some of the issues and have worked together on a text for a joint comprehensive plan of action, there are still significant gaps on some core issues which will require more time and effort”, said High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Iran's Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif in a joint press release. According to Russia's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergei Rybakov, there are differences of opinion on the Arak reactor and on the Fordo nuclear plant. The talks will therefore continue because, “though there are still substantial differences on core issues, a lot of work has been done and we've agreed (…) that we would like to try and complete this process and to take this extra time in order to do that”, said Ashton. “We've made a lot of progress, we've discussed all of the key issues and drilled down into some of the substantial areas that need to be discussed”, she added.
“We will reconvene in the coming weeks in different formats with the clear determination to reach agreement on a joint comprehensive plan of action at the earliest moment possible”, Ashton and Zarif announced. The parties have returned to their respective countries to assess the outstanding issues. Meetings between the E3+3 and between Ashton and Zarif are due to take place, and work will also be done on the time schedule.
The implementation of measures and commitments in the joint action plan agreed on 24 November 2013 (see EUROPE 10970) has been extended until 24 November 2014. On 21 July (with publication in the Official Journal of the EU the same day), the Council therefore extended until 24 November 2014 the suspension of the EU restrictive measures set out in the joint action plan. This suspension enables the provision of insurance and transport in connection with the sales of Iranian crude oil to current customers, the import, purchase or transport of Iranian petrochemical products, and the trade in gold and precious metals with the Iranian government and its public bodies. The raising of the authorisation threshold for financial transfers to and from Iran remains in force. (CG)