Cautious optimism as nuclear talks resume in Geneva

World powers resumed talks yesterday on a preliminary agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear programme with the United States warning it would be “very hard” to clinch a breakthrough deal this week and Tehran citing “red lines”.

Keen to end a long standoff and head off the risk of a wider Middle East war, the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany came close to winning concessions from Tehran on its nuclear activity in return for some sanctions relief at negotiations in Geneva earlier this month.

Policymakers from the six nations have since said an interim accord on confidence-building steps could finally be within reach, despite warnings from diplomats that serious differences persist.

British foreign secretary William Hague said the remaining gaps were narrow. "It is the best chance for a long time to make progress on one of the gravest problems in foreign policy," he told a news conference during a visit to Istanbul.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier: "We hope the efforts that are being made will be crowned with success at the meeting that opens today in Geneva."

But a senior US official appeared more cautious, telling reporters: "I think we can [get a deal], whether we will, we will have to see because it is hard. It is very hard."

Most sanctions to stay
The official, with an eye to strong sceptics of deal-making with Iran, including Israel and hawks in the US Congress, said the majority of sanctions would remain intact after any initial pact and Washington would "vigorously" implement them.

US secretary of state John Kerry said the issue of whether Iran would ultimately be allowed to enrich uranium would not be decided in an interim deal under discussion in Geneva.

“Whatever a country decides or doesn’t decide to do, or is allowed to do under the rules, depends on a negotiation,” Mr Kerry told reporters.

“We are at the initial stage of determining whether or not there is a first step that could be taken, and that certainly will not be resolved in any first step, I can assure you.”

Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, in a speech as negotiators gathered in Geneva, the Islamic Republic would not step back from its nuclear rights and he had set "red lines" for his envoys in Geneva.

'Arrogant'
He added, according to his official website: "We want to have friendly relations with all nations and peoples. The Islamic system isn't even hostile to the nation of America, although with regards to Iran and the Islamic system, the American government is arrogant, malicious and vindictive."

The ayatollah also criticised France, which spoke against a draft deal floated at the November 7th-9th round, for “succumbing to the United States” and “kneeling before the Israeli regime”.

France said the comments were unacceptable.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Russia yesterday to appeal for tougher terms in any accord with Iran after failing to convince the US that the world powers are pursuing a bad deal.

Israel, assumed to have the Middle East’s only nuclear arsenal, sees a nuclear-armed Iran as a grave threat and wants its uranium enrichment capabilities dismantled and its enriched uranium stockpile removed.

– (Reuters)