Optimism grows over nuclear agreement with Iran

Iran’s plan to cap some of its atomic activities in exchange for selective relief from crippling economic sanctions has been accepted by six world powers, the country’s chief nuclear negotiator says.

The upbeat comments from Abbas Araghchi, reported by Iranian state TV, suggest that negotiators in Geneva are moving from broad discussions over a nuclear deal to specific steps limiting Tehran’s ability to make atomic weapons.

In return, Iran would start getting relief from sanctions.

“Today, they clearly said that they accept the proposed framework by Iran,” Mr Araghchi said.

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Though he described the negotiations as “very difficult,” he said he expected agreement on details to be finalised today, the last scheduled round of current talks.

International negotiators, representing the US, Russia, China, UK, France and Germany, declined to comment on Mr Araghchi’s statement.

The last round of talks three weeks ago reached agreement on a framework of possible discussion points. The two sides kicked off Thursday’s round focused on getting to a “first step” – described by Western negotiators as an initial curb on uranium enrichment and other activities.

Though Tehran says it needs to do this work for peaceful purposes, the US and its allies fear that Iran could turn it to use to arm warheads with fissile material.

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Before the talks, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met top EU diplomat Lady Ashton.

The initial encounter broke up after about an hour yesterday, but a European Union spokesman called it a “good opening session”.

Asked afterwards about the chances of agreement this week, Mr Zarif said: “If everyone tries their best, we may have one.”

After nearly a decade of deadlock, Iran seems more amenable to making concessions to the six countries. Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, has indicated he could cut back on the nuclear programme if sanctions are eased.

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Despite the seemingly calmer political backdrop, issues remain.

Iranian hard-liners, for example, want significant sanctions reductions in exchange for scaling back enrichment, while some US politicians want the enrichment to stop altogether in exchange for loosening sanctions.

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