Brussels, 19/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - Negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme were resumed in Vienna on Tuesday 18 November. Iran and the members of the E3+3 (Germany, France, United Kingdom and China, United States, Russia) are to try and find an agreement before the 24 November deadline.
The negotiation round started with lunch between former High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Iran's Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Javad Zarif. This was followed by several other meetings, including between representatives from the E3+3 and Iran, according to diplomats quoted by French news agency AFP. The ministers from the Western countries could meet for discussions during the week.
The outcome of the talks remains uncertain. Differences of opinion still persist on the capacity of uranium enrichment, the Arak reactor and the speed of lifting the international sanctions on Tehran.
On Tuesday 18 November, the two parties called for concessions. “An agreement is possible if the West, led by the USA, stops presenting excessive demands”, warned Zarif on arriving in Vienna. He pledged to “conduct the efforts right until the last day”. “Iran must, on its side, do its utmost during this decisive week”, said US Secretary of State John Kerry. The UK's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond called on Iran to show flexibility. “I think an agreement can be concluded but we will not sign a bad agreement”, he warned.
On 13 November, Kerry and Russia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov called for a comprehensive agreement to be found “as quickly as possible”. Extending the negotiations beyond 24 November is not officially discussed. (CG)