3 yıl önce

US, Iran can reach nuclear deal 'within days' if Tehran 'shows seriousness'

State Department reports "substantial progress" in talks at Vienna but also warns "anything much beyond that would put the possibility of return to the [2015] deal at grave risk."

AP

US is indirectly participating in nuclear talks with Iran that are going on in Austria's capital Vienna in presence of permanent UN members, and Germany.

The United States has said that "substantial progress" has been made last week during negotiations in Vienna to save the Iran nuclear deal, deeming an agreement possible within days if Iran "shows seriousness" on the matter.

"If Iran shows seriousness, we can and should reach an understanding on mutual return to full implementation of the JCPOA within days," a State Department spokesperson told the AFP news agency on Thursday, using an acronym for the 2015 deal.

But "anything much beyond that would put the possibility of a return to the deal at grave risk," the spokesperson added.

The Vienna talks, which involve Iran as well as Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia directly, and the United States indirectly, resumed in late November with the aim of restoring the 2015 deal.

That accord had offered Tehran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme, but the United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018 under former president Donald Trump and reimposed heavy economic sanctions, prompting Iran to begin rolling back on its commitments.

'Closer than ever to agreement'

Some experts say Iran is only a few weeks away from having enough fissile material to build a nuclear weapon — even if it would take several more complicated steps to create an actual bomb.

President Joe Biden said he is willing to return to the deal and ease some of the US sanctions, provided Tehran resumes its commitments under the agreement.

France had warned Iran on Wednesday that time was running out to accept a new deal. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said it was "a question of days," adding that a major crisis would be unleashed if there is no agreement.

But earlier in the day, Iran's top negotiator Ali Bagheri said they "are closer than ever to an agreement."

He called on the other parties to be "realistic" and make "serious decisions."

Tehran also called on the US Congress to say Washington would commit if an agreement is reached in Vienna.

Iranian authorities had said in 2018 they wanted a "guarantee" that an agreement would be implemented, as the potential of US political turnover had once more brought that into question.

SOURCE: AFP