• Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, right, and the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi inspect the nuclear technology on the occasion of Iran National Nuclear Technology Day in Tehran in 2019. EPA
    Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, right, and the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi inspect the nuclear technology on the occasion of Iran National Nuclear Technology Day in Tehran in 2019. EPA
  • IR-8 centrifuges at Natanz nuclear power plant, some 300 kilometres south of capital Tehran. AFP
    IR-8 centrifuges at Natanz nuclear power plant, some 300 kilometres south of capital Tehran. AFP
  • The Iranian nuclear power plant in Bushehr in 2010. EPA
    The Iranian nuclear power plant in Bushehr in 2010. EPA
  • Salehi speaks with media while visiting Natanz enrichment facility, in central Iran in 2019. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP
    Salehi speaks with media while visiting Natanz enrichment facility, in central Iran in 2019. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP
  • The gate of Natanz nuclear power plant in Natanz , Isfahan province, in 2019. EPA
    The gate of Natanz nuclear power plant in Natanz , Isfahan province, in 2019. EPA
  • Inside of the Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, in Fordow, Qom province in 2019. EPA
    Inside of the Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, in Fordow, Qom province in 2019. EPA
  • Technicians work at the Arak heavy water reactor's secondary circuit, as officials and media visit the site, near Arak, Iran in 2019. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP
    Technicians work at the Arak heavy water reactor's secondary circuit, as officials and media visit the site, near Arak, Iran in 2019. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP
  • Members of the media and officials tour the water nuclear reactor at Arak in 2019. WANA via Reuters
    Members of the media and officials tour the water nuclear reactor at Arak in 2019. WANA via Reuters
  • Concrete is poured for the base of the second nuclear power reactor at Bushehr plant in 2019. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP
    Concrete is poured for the base of the second nuclear power reactor at Bushehr plant in 2019. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP

MENA

Iran nuclear deal talks to resume in Vienna

Diplomats hopeful of latest round of negotiations being the last

The National

June 11, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Talks in Vienna aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal Iran agreed to with world powers will resume on Saturday, with diplomats hopeful it will be the final round of negotiations.

Slow but steady progress has been made by diplomats after five rounds of talks that seek a US return to the accord and Iranian compliance.

Officials from the EU, China, France, Germany, Russia and the UK were present, as well as representatives from Tehran and Washington – although they have not met face to face.

“Will it be the final round? Nobody knows but all negotiators hope so,” said Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s representative.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister and envoy to the talks, Abbas Araghchi, said: "The participants are expected to continue consultations on the possible return of the United States to the nuclear accord and ensuring the full and effective implementation of this agreement.”

Earlier this week, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said "a lot of progress" was made.

But she said “until the last detail is nailed down, and I mean nailed down, we will not know if we have an agreement”.

Next Friday, Iran will hold presidential elections to find the successor to incumbent Hassan Rouhani.

  • Iran's former top nuclear negotiator and former presidential candidate Saeed Jalili. AFP
    Iran's former top nuclear negotiator and former presidential candidate Saeed Jalili. AFP
  • Ebrahim Raisi, head of Iran's judiciary. AP Photo
    Ebrahim Raisi, head of Iran's judiciary. AP Photo
  • Former Iranian vice president Mohsen Mehralizadeh, accompanied by his grandsons, salutes supporters as he registers his candidacy at the Interior Ministry in the capital Tehran. AFP
    Former Iranian vice president Mohsen Mehralizadeh, accompanied by his grandsons, salutes supporters as he registers his candidacy at the Interior Ministry in the capital Tehran. AFP
  • Abdolnaser Hemmati, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, listens to a speech in parliament in Tehran. AFP
    Abdolnaser Hemmati, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, listens to a speech in parliament in Tehran. AFP
  • Iranian conservative presidential candidate, Alireza Zakani. AFP
    Iranian conservative presidential candidate, Alireza Zakani. AFP
  • Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi.
    Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi.
  • Iranian former chief of the Revolutionary Guards Mohsen Rezai. AFP
    Iranian former chief of the Revolutionary Guards Mohsen Rezai. AFP

In 2018, the-then US president Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 deal and re-imposed heavy economic sanctions on Iran.

In response, Tehran has repeatedly breached the terms of accord and says it will only return to compliance once the sanctions are lifted.

Mr Trump’s successor Joe Biden says he is open to a return to the deal but on the condition that Iran first returns to compliance.

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