The new round of negotiations, which was considered fundamental for Washington against Tehran, has concluded with “good progress,” according to the head of the Iranian representation, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. “These have been among the most serious conversations we have had with the United States,” he declared on his country’s state television. According to him, both sides are “close” to reaching an agreement in some areas, although differences still remain.
The contacts will continue on Monday in a meeting at a technical level in Vienna, according to the head of the Iranian delegation. The Austrian capital hosts the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, observer in the round of contacts).
The IAEA board of governors is scheduled to meet between March 2 and 4. Also next week, according to the Tehran representative, a new round of contacts will be held, the fourth, between his delegation and the American one.
“During these long and very intense hours we have made good progress and have entered into a serious examination of the elements of an agreement, both at the nuclear and sanctions levels,” Araghchi declared. “In some areas we are very close to an understanding. Of course, there are still differences of opinion, but compared to the past both sides are more serious about the need to reach a negotiated agreement.”
Washington representatives have not commented so far on the results of the meeting in Vienna. Next week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to travel to Israel to discuss the situation with the authorities of that country.
As the Iranian minister explained, in the contacts this Thursday, his country demanded the lifting of US sanctions and proposed a process to proceed with that lifting. The immediate step will be the return of the delegations to their respective countries to inform their governments.
Araghchi thus confirmed what his Omani counterpart had written on social networks. “We have concluded the day after significant progress in the negotiations between the United States and Iran. We will resume them soon after consultations in the respective capitals. Contacts at a technical level will take place next week in Vienna. I am grateful to all those involved for their efforts: the negotiators, the International Atomic Energy Agency and our hosts, the Swiss Government,” Al Busaidi had noted.
The negotiation took place in two parts. The first, lasting four hours, and the second, lasting two, interrupted by a pause of more than three hours in which the American negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, participated in the talks between Russia and Ukraine to try to reach a peace agreement, also in Geneva.
In the first part of the contacts, Tehran delivered to Omani mediators a proposal on its nuclear program for Washington. Previously, Donald Trump had warned that he will use force if diplomatic talks fail, multiplying the pressure with new sanctions and after amassing since the Gulf War.
According to a senior Iranian official told Al Jazeera, Tehran’s proposal “includes technical and practical ways, and data that demonstrates that we do not want a nuclear weapon. Our proposal confirms that our uranium enrichment is a sovereign right and offers a temporary, limited-term suspension of our enrichment activities.”
This proposal “does not include anything with respect to our missile and defense programs. The idea of ruling out permanent enrichment, the dismantlement of nuclear facilities and the transfer of uranium reserves is completely rejected,” the senior official added.
In Washington, the US representatives will inform not only President Donald Trump – who on the 19th indicated a period of “ten, maximum fifteen” days before deciding whether to opt for military means – but also the State Department, Congress, the intelligence services and the Pentagon about what was discussed in the contacts.
Both parties traveled to Geneva with an abyss of mistrust and opposing positions. Throughout the weeks of contacts, Iran has made it clear that it only wants to discuss its nuclear program; According to CNN, he could have offered this Thursday to put a limit on his uranium enrichment, so as not to reach the level necessary for the manufacture of nuclear weapons, in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.
The United States aspires not only to the end of the Iranian nuclear program – despite Trump declaring it “annihilated” after the attack on Iranian atomic facilities last June – but also to limit the ballistic missile program and withdraw Tehran’s support for radical Islamist groups in the Middle East.
“Iran is clearly on the path to one day be able to develop missiles with which to reach the United States,” insisted the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in statements to the media during a visit to Saint Kitts and Nevis to participate in the annual summit of the Caribbean Community (Caricom).
According to the digital Axios, Trump’s personal envoy, Steve Witkoff, explained in a private meeting on Tuesday that the United States demands that any nuclear agreement reached by Iran remain in force indefinitely.
Meanwhile, faced with the possibility that Trump will order the bombing of an Iran that he considers weakened by the poor performance of its economy, the massive protests last month and the attack on its nuclear facilities last June.
The aircraft carrier Gerald Fordwhich was refueling at the Suda naval base in Greece, has set sail on its way to waters near Israel, where it could arrive this Friday. Another aircraft carrier is already located in the waters of the Persian Gulf, the Abraham Lincolnaccompanied by its escort group, which includes three missile-equipped destroyers. Israeli media had reported on Wednesday the arrival of American F-22 fighter planes in this country.
The prospect of a new attack worries the countries in the area, which fear that the conflict could spread to other parts of the region when the fragile peace agreement for the Gaza Strip is still faltering. Iran has warned that if it is bombed it will respond against US military bases in the region, where nearly 40,000 US soldiers are stationed.
