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Iran makes last-minute demands as nuclear talks reach deadline
Iranian negotiators are thought to be making new eleventh hour demands over an arms embargo and restrictions on missile development, as the nuclear talks in Vienna reach their revised deadline today.
Iran and the P5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) agreed a framework to a comprehensive nuclear deal in April. This paved the way for negotiations towards a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action which was to be concluded by 30 June. However, with the deadline having passed, it was agreed that talks will continue up until today.
Several media outlets, including the Guardian, AP and AFP report that Iranian negotiators view the deadline as immaterial. An anonymous official is quoted saying, “Even if we pass July 9, there will not be the end of the world, there will be another period for us to watch.” Any deal completed and submitted to US Congress for review after 9 July, would hand Congress 60 days to consider an agreement rather than 30, potentially holding back its implementation.
In the meantime, the Independent and Telegraph are among those reporting that Iran has introduced new demands to the talks. Delicate negotiations are already ongoing regarding the pace of economic sanctions relief, international inspections and Iranian nuclear research. However, Iran is apparently demanding that the P5+1 commit to lifting a United Nations arms embargo from 2007. Despite the restrictions, Tehran already provides material support to Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria’s President Assad and rebels in Yemen. Lifting the embargo would increase Iran’s potential to destabilise the region. Iran has also requested an end to restrictions on ballistic missile development, a step which Western powers fear would allow Iran to develop the means of delivering a nuclear weapon and further unsettle the Middle East.
All six foreign ministers representing the P5+1 countries are now in Vienna as the talks reach a critical point. Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday “Every day, more concessions are made and every day the deal becomes worse and worse.”