A uranium conversion plant in Isfahan, central Iran. Photo: EPA
A uranium conversion plant in Isfahan, central Iran. Photo: EPA
A uranium conversion plant in Isfahan, central Iran. Photo: EPA
A uranium conversion plant in Isfahan, central Iran. Photo: EPA

Iran nuclear deal talks enter ‘endgame’


Laura O'Callaghan
  • English
  • Arabic

Talks aimed at reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal have entered the “endgame” stage and a conclusion is imminent, Britain said.

Stephanie Al-Qaq, the UK Foreign Office’s director of the Middle East and North Africa department, on Tuesday suggested the discussions in Vienna could come to a close within days.

“Now in the endgame of this negotiation. Time for us to conclude,” she said.

Discussions aimed at bringing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action back to life have been going on in Vienna since late last year.

The accord collapsed after Donald Trump pulled the US out in 2018. During his campaign for the White House, the former US president had repeatedly criticised the agreement negotiated by the Barack Obama administration, calling it the “worst deal ever”.

Last week, negotiators said the talks would end this week.

“By next week, we should know if there will be a deal or not,” Ali Vaez, director of the Iran programme at the International Crisis Group, told the Diplomatic, a foreign policy analysis blog. “Either breakdown or breakthrough.”

The talks dragged on for months, broken by a long gap last year as a hardline new government took power in Tehran.

The current eighth round started after Christmas.

This month, diplomats from Iran and the remaining parties to the agreement – Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China – headed back to the table after a break of about a week. The US is participating indirectly in the talks.

The Biden administration has vowed to try to restart the deal, much to the dismay of Israel, Iran’s rival.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said his nation would not be bound by any agreement between world powers and Iran, leaving it room to manoeuvre militarily.

US President Joe Biden has signalled he wishes to revive the nuclear deal after his predecessor Donald Trump pulled America out. AP Photo
US President Joe Biden has signalled he wishes to revive the nuclear deal after his predecessor Donald Trump pulled America out. AP Photo

After withdrawing from the pact that granted Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme, Mr Trump reimposed heavy penalties on Iran.

Tehran responded by increasing the purity and amount of uranium it enriches and stockpiles, in breach of the accord.

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

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Rooney's club record

At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17

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Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Updated: February 22, 2022, 1:03 PM