Iran Nuclear Talks Head for Collapse Unless Tehran Shifts, Europeans Say

Iran Nuclear Talks Head for Collapse Unless Tehran Shifts, Europeans Say

In Vienna talks, the new hard-line Iranian government has staked out positions that are incompatible with the 2015 deal, European negotiators say.

NY Times-Dec 3rd 2021

By Steven Erlanger

BRUSSELS — Western negotiators trying to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal said on Friday that the new, more hard-line government in Iran is proposing unacceptable changes to the existing draft agreement, even as it is proceeding apace with its nuclear program.

Unless Tehran shifts its stance quickly, the diplomats from Britain, France and Germany warned after five days of meetings in Vienna, there is little possibility of a successful negotiation. The talks were suspended for consultations with governments and may resume next week.

“Over five months ago, Iran interrupted negotiations, and since then, Iran has fast-forwarded its nuclear program,” the three said in a joint statement. “This week, it has backtracked on diplomatic progress made. Iran is breaking with almost all of the difficult compromises crafted in months of tough negotiations and is demanding substantial changes to the text” that undermine the draft, which was between 70 and 80 percent finished, they said.

Iran says it wants to return to the 2015 deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or J.C.P.O.A. But the Europeans said that some of Iran’s proposals are not only inconsistent with that deal but “go beyond” its provisions.

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https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/03/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-negotiations-europeans.html