The Iran nuclear talks in Vienna are continuing amid signs of progress in the standoff between Washington and Tehran. Reuters
The Iran nuclear talks in Vienna are continuing amid signs of progress in the standoff between Washington and Tehran. Reuters
The Iran nuclear talks in Vienna are continuing amid signs of progress in the standoff between Washington and Tehran. Reuters
The Iran nuclear talks in Vienna are continuing amid signs of progress in the standoff between Washington and Tehran. Reuters

EU's Josep Borrell believes Iran and US genuinely interested in solving nuclear issues


Jamie Prentis
  • English
  • Arabic

Both Iran and the US have shown genuine interest in reaching an agreement amid a standoff over the 2015 nuclear deal Tehran agreed with world powers, the EU’s foreign policy chief said on Monday.

Josep Borrell said the talks in Vienna that are aimed at bringing the US back into the accord were moving forward and now focusing on specific issues.

“I think that both parties are really interested in reaching an agreement and they have been moving from general to more focused issues, which are clearly – on one side, sanctions lifting, and on the other side, nuclear implementation issues,” Mr Borrell said, referring to Iran and the US.

“I cannot go into details but I think that there is real goodwill from both parties to reach an agreement, and that’s good news,” he added after an online meeting with EU foreign ministers.

Mr Borrell said that his political director Enrique Mora, who is chairing the talks, had gone back to Vienna after returning to Brussels on Friday.

Last week, Mr Borrell spoke to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the nuclear deal during his visit to Brussels and said he had also been in contact with Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif.

On Monday, Russian and Iranian officials said the meetings were making progress but warned a long-term solution remained distant.

Optimism is growing for a breakthrough in the deadlock after two weeks of negotiations between Iran and the remaining signatories to the accord – China, France, Germany, Russia and the UK.

A US delegation was also present in Vienna, but has not been dealing directly with Iran.

US President Joe Biden wants to return to the deal, from which his predecessor Donald Trump withdrew before he re-imposed heavy sanctions on Iran.

In response, Tehran has repeatedly broken the terms of the agreement and said it would only return once the US-imposed financial measures were lifted.

Mr Biden’s administration said it would do so when Iran returns to compliance.

Russia’s representative, Mikhail Ulyanov, said on Monday: “We can note with satisfaction that the negotiations entered the drafting stage.

“Practical solutions are still far away, but we have moved from general words to agreeing on specific steps towards the goal.”

Expert groups are trying to resolve the two key issues, of rolling back the US sanctions and ensuring Iran stops violating the limits set out in the nuclear deal.

Saeed Khatibzadeh, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, said there was “some progress in the talks, but it doesn't mean the resolution of differences”.

“We think the US administration knows better than anyone that Iran's actions are within the framework of the nuclear deal and they will be halted when the US lifts sanctions and we can verify that,” he told IRNA news agency.

Jake Sullivan, Mr Biden’s national security adviser, said the Vienna dialogue was constructive.

“What I will say is that the US is not going to lift sanctions unless we have clarity and confidence that Iran will fully return to compliance with its obligations under the deal,” he told Fox News.

Last week Tehran announced that it was producing uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity, taking it another step closer to the 90-per cent level that is needed for use in a nuclear weapon, and well above the limit allowed by the deal. It also blamed an attack on its Natanz nuclear facility on Israel.

Iran’s delegate to the Vienna talks struck a cautiously optimistic tone on Saturday and said "a new agreement is taking shape".

"We think that negotiations have reached a stage that the parties can start working on a joint text. The writing of the text can start, at least in the fields with a consensus," Abbas Araghchi said.

"There are still serious disagreements that must be reduced during future negotiations," he added.

FA CUP FINAL

Manchester City 6
(D Silva 26', Sterling 38', 81', 87', De Bruyne 61', Jesus 68')

Watford 0

Man of the match: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

AIR
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LAST-16 FIXTURES

Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi

The%20Mother%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Niki%20Caro%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jennifer%20Lopez%2C%20Joseph%20Fiennes%2C%20Gael%20Garcia%20Bernal%2C%20Omari%20Hardwick%20and%20Lucy%20Paez%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UK-EU trade at a glance

EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years

Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products

Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries

Smoother border management with use of e-gates

Cutting red tape on import and export of food

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
25%20Days%20to%20Aden
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Super Saturday results

4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).

4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
Winner: Divine Image, Brett Doyle, Charlie Appleby.

5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
Winner: Blue Point, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Muntazah, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.

6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Old Persian, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.

7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.

DIVINE%20INTERVENTOIN
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UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)