LAUSANNE, Switzerland, (Reuters) – Six world powers are unlikely to reach a framework agreement with Iran on its nuclear work in the coming days as the sides are still far apart on key issues, a senior European negotiator said yesterday, blaming Tehran for failing to compromise.
“Contrary to what the Iranians are saying with regard to 90 percent of an accord being done, that’s not correct,” the negotiator told reporters on condition of anonymity. “We are not close to an agreement.”
President Barack Obama said in an Iranian New Year’s message yesterday to Iran’s leaders and people that the two countries “have an historic opportunity to resolve this issue peacefully – an opportunity we should not miss.”
Iran and six world powers are seeking a comprehensive agreement to curb Iran’s most sensitive nuclear activities for at least 10 years in exchange for a gradual end to sanctions. The powers aim to complete the framework of a final deal by the end of March and reach a full agreement by June 30.
A senior U.S. State Department official yesterday denied reports there was a draft nuclear deal in circulation among six world powers and Iran. An Iranian official echoed the denial. Several Western officials had privately spoken of a document with brackets highlighting areas of disagreement.
One major stumbling block is that Iran is pressing world powers to agree to start easing some restrictions on its atomic programme earlier than Western countries are willing to accept, Western and Iranian officials said.
The current round of talks in Switzerland may need to continue beyond today, the State Department official said.
“We are pretty far away. There are a lot of issues that still need to be resolved. The Iranians must make substantial concessions,” the European negotiator said.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the sides were working on
difficult issues.
“We’re pushing some tough issues but we made progress,” Kerry told reporters, adding that it was unclear when the U.S. delegation would return to Washington.
In Washington, a senior Treasury official said the Obama administration would work with Congress to impose further sanctions on Iran if a nuclear deal is not reached.
U.S. lawmakers have been concerned the White House would cut Congress out of any deal, and would treat Iran too lightly.
Obama, noting opposition in both countries to an agreement, said in his message to Iranians: “Together, we have to speak up for the future we seek,” and added: “This year, we have the best opportunity in decades to pursue a different future between our countries.”
Despite the gaps between the two sides in Lausanne, there have been some areas of rough agreement. One of the central issues under discussion from the beginning was the number of centrifuges Iran would be permitted to operate. Western officials have said that number of would likely be around 6,000 if an agreement is reached.
Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation chief Ali Akbar Salehi, who is close to Iran’s Supreme Leader, said on Tuesday that an accord was 90 percent agreed with only one issue unresolved.
Highlighting tensions after five days of talks, Salehi and Foreign Minister Mohamad Javad Zarif were captured by a Reuters photographer in a heated argument on the lawns of the luxury hotel overlooking the French Alps.
