High-level officials involved in the talks over a Tehran’s nuclear program said they had “never been closer” to a deal as they face a self-imposed deadline on July 7.
Speaking in English from the balcony of the Viennese hotel hosting the talks, Zarif said in a message posted on YouTube that at "this 11th hour, despite some differences that remain, we have never been closer to a lasting outcome".
Iran's Message: Our Counterparts Must Choose Between Agreement and Coercion https://t.co/jpzLQxbcxu
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif)
July 3, 201
The deal aims at curbing Iran’s nuclear capability and restricting it to a civilian program, which all countries in the world are entitled to have under international laws.
The news of a close deal came as reports suggested negotiators had agreed on key parts of the accord, including sanctions relief for Iran.
Meanwhile, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Saturday that a document detailing the past activities of the Iran's nuclear program, a key part in the Iran deal, could be ready by the end of the year.
#iran had bn concerned IAEA addessing PMD could drag on indefinitely. now has amano's public word can resolve in few months w/ cooperation
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen)
July 4, 201
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“Once an agreement on the joint comprehensive plan of action is reached, the IAEA is ready to implement the nuclear-related elements when requested.” IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said after a weekend visit to Iran where he met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
#IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano's Remarks to Media in Vienna on #IranTalks #PressRelease https://t.co/bZ2iyn1XeC pic.twitter.com/3Ah3ssT7VQ
— IAEA (@iaeaorg)
July 4, 201
Inspecting Iranian military facilities and interviewing nuclear scientists is one of contentious parts of the deal.
The IAEA says that in order to determine the history of the Iranian nuclear program, those visits and interviews are essential. However, Tehran says military centers are red lines and visits will not be permitted.
“Our red lines include permission for visiting the military centers and interview[s] with nuclear scientists as well as the points explicitly stated by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei],” Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of the parliamentary national security commission, told Iran’s Fars News agency Saturday.
Commenting on the key points in the deal, one unnamed United States official told the Washington Post that aside from the technical part, the political aspect of the deal has yet to be completed.
“Even if and when issues get resolved at an experts level, there will remain some open issues that can only be decided by ministers,” the official said.
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