Opinion     

Talks for a permanent deal on the Iran nuclear issue

China.org.cn, April 8, 2014

• The next round of talks over the Iranian controversial nuclear program will be held on April 7-9 in the Austrian capital Vienna as part of international efforts to clinch a permanent deal on the issue within the stipulated six-month period up until the end of July.

  Axing the nukes [By Gou Ben/China.org.cn]

  
  
  

  The negotiations for the final solution of nuclear issue between Iran and the United States, the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia formally started in February. The second round was held in March, when the two sides reported progress. "Based on the framework for the negotiations established at our meeting last month, we had substantive and useful discussions covering a set of issues, including enrichment, the Arak reactor, civil nuclear cooperation and sanctions," EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said in a joint statement at the end of talks in Geneva on March 19.

  The development in the talks made so far has shown a willingness to work towards a peaceful solution, which is a very healthy sign, but there are still deep differences over the key issues.

  The next round will focus on the level of enrichment demanded by Iran and the Western apprehensions that the Islamic country will use it as camouflage for building nukes. Initially, it was believed that the final agreement will be based on the interim accord of Nov. 24, which specified the easing of sanctions on Tehran in response to suspension of high-grade uranium enrichment.

  The deal was a major Confidence Building Measure (CBM). It provided the foundation for major tradeoffs to work out a detailed accord for ending Iran's lingering conflict with the world, which has seriously hampered its economic development. Now it seems that last year the deal served only as a stopgap arrangement. The "devil in details" theory is hindering progress. According to the Russian chief negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who is part of the EU-/EU + 3 talks team, there were big impediments due to the enrichment-related demands by Iran, which could have military dimensions as well as civilian ones.

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