BICOM

Ongoing talks between the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) and Iran in Vienna appear to have made no real progress as the two sides attempt to broker a long-term deal on Tehran’s nuclear programme ahead of a self-imposed deadline on Sunday.

Iran and the P5+1 concluded a six-month agreement in Geneva in November, which saw Tehran reduce some of its enrichment capacity in return for a loosening of selected sanctions. However, both sides are now looking to broker a longer-term settlement, having agreed to a 20 July deadline to reach such an agreement. The latest round of talks, which began on 2 July are expected to continue up until the deadline itself.

However, reports suggest that no progress has been made. US Secretary of State John Kerry joined the negotiations on Sunday, meeting directly with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Zarif. Foreign Secretary William Hague, who recently called on Iran to be “more realistic”, also joined the talks as did his counterparts from France and Germany. Nonetheless, significant disagreement remains on a number of issues, especially over the number of centrifuges Iran would be permitted. The P5+1 powers want Tehran to reduce its number of centrifuges to 5,000 while Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei recently said that his country needs 190,000 centrifuges.

The Times quotes Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who commented, “Disputes over all major and important issues still remain. We have not been able to narrow the gaps on major issues and it is not clear whether we can do it.” Several media outlets report that Hossein Fereydoun, brother and special adviser to Iran’s President Rouhani arrived in Vienna on Sunday, prompting speculation of new instructions from Tehran. However, there is no evidence of a new direction. Reuters suggests that Iran’s negotiating team is hamstrung by Khamenei’s hard line.

It has been suggested that the talks could be extended by as much as six months if no agreement is reached by Sunday.