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French Foreign Minister: Iran nuclear talks have ‘hit a wall’
France’s Foreign Minister yesterday said that there is a “fundamental” disagreement over centrifuges between the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) and Iran, increasing doubts over whether a long-term nuclear agreement can be agreed before a 20 July deadline.
Talks in Vienna last month between P5+1 representatives and Iranian officials ended without any tangible progress. Another round of talks is scheduled for next week. However, in advance of the negotiations, a high-level American delegation has been meeting with their Iranian counterparts in Geneva this week. The talks are widely viewed as a reflection of American determination to meet a self-imposed 20 July deadline to strike a long-term deal over Tehran’s nuclear development.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi described the bilateral talks with the United States as “constructive.” He said that it is “too soon to judge” whether a six-month extension to talks with the P5+1 would be necessary, but added “the good thing is all parties are seriously committed to meet that [20 July] goal.”
However, in an interview with France Inter radio yesterday, France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius explained that there is deep disagreement on centrifuges. He said, “We are still hitting a wall on one absolutely fundamental point, which is the number of centrifuges that allow enrichment.” He explained, “We say that there can be a few hundred centrifuges, but the Iranians want thousands so we’re not in the same framework.” Other outstanding issues between the two sides are also thought to exist such as the Arak heavy water reactor and “possible military dimensions” to the Iranian nuclear programme. Some media reports suggest that France and other P5+1 members will also met individually with Iranian officials this week.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon warned yesterday that extending the P5+1 talks with Iran beyond 20 July would allow Tehran to buy time for further nuclear development. He said, “They [Iran] think they will obtain the nuclear options by manipulating the West with smiles.”