China says time to speed up Iran nuclear talks
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — China’s ambassador to Iranian nuclear talks said it is time to speed up negotiations to revive the nuclear deal as the latest meeting of senior diplomats wrapped up in Vienna on Friday, under pressure after Tehran’s announced intention to boost its uranium enrichment to 60 percent.
“We do think that all these developments have reinforced our conviction that what is needed most now as a top priority is to do away with any disruptive factors and pick up the pace of negotiation here,” China’s Ambassador Wang Qun told reporters after meetings in Vienna.
Discussions will continue with informal meetings of experts, and senior diplomats of the remaining members of the accord – Iran, UK, France, Germany, Russia, and China – may meet again, “if the need arises,” tweeted Russia’s Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov. “General impression is positive,” he added.
Tehran announced on Wednesday it will increase its uranium enrichment to 60 percent, far above the 3.67 limit set in the nuclear accord and closer to the weapons-grade 90 percent, days after an explosion knocked out power at the Natanz atomic facility. Iran blamed Israel for what it called “nuclear terrorism.”
“You want us to attend the negotiations with empty hands, but we attend the negotiations with full hands,” said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, while emphasizing that the purpose of the nuclear program is “only and definitely peaceful.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Brussels on Wednesday to meet with European allies, said he is taking Iran’s “provocative” announcement of increased uranium enrichment “very seriously.”
“I think the United States demonstrated very clearly to the other participants in this effort and to the world our seriousness of purpose. It remains to be seen whether Iran has that same seriousness of purpose,” he told reporters.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif replied on Twitter on Thursday, saying Iran’s “seriousness of purpose” has been tested over the past three years, since former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal and began imposing sanctions. “Iran – by remaining in the deal – passed with flying colors,” said Zarif.
The landmark nuclear deal has been on life support since Trump pulled out in 2018 and Iran began to walk back in its obligations in response to US sanctions. The administration of US President Joe Biden wants to rejoin and they have been engaged in indirect discussions with Tehran in Vienna to find a way they can both return to full compliance with the accord.
Iran’s Supreme Leader gave his approval for the discussions in Vienna, but cautioned against letting the talks drag on.
“I have no problem with this,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday regarding Iranian officials participating in the talks, “but they should be careful not to let negotiations become too draining or allow the other side to lengthen the negotiations too much, because this is detrimental to the country.”
He also expressed doubt about the sincerity of the other parties, saying the Americans “have an aggressive attitude. They try to impose their demands,” and the Europeans “confirm in private meeting that what Iran says in correct, and that the Iranians are right. But when it comes to decision-making, they follow them [the US]. They are not truly independent in any way.”
“We do think that all these developments have reinforced our conviction that what is needed most now as a top priority is to do away with any disruptive factors and pick up the pace of negotiation here,” China’s Ambassador Wang Qun told reporters after meetings in Vienna.
Discussions will continue with informal meetings of experts, and senior diplomats of the remaining members of the accord – Iran, UK, France, Germany, Russia, and China – may meet again, “if the need arises,” tweeted Russia’s Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov. “General impression is positive,” he added.
Tehran announced on Wednesday it will increase its uranium enrichment to 60 percent, far above the 3.67 limit set in the nuclear accord and closer to the weapons-grade 90 percent, days after an explosion knocked out power at the Natanz atomic facility. Iran blamed Israel for what it called “nuclear terrorism.”
“You want us to attend the negotiations with empty hands, but we attend the negotiations with full hands,” said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, while emphasizing that the purpose of the nuclear program is “only and definitely peaceful.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Brussels on Wednesday to meet with European allies, said he is taking Iran’s “provocative” announcement of increased uranium enrichment “very seriously.”
“I think the United States demonstrated very clearly to the other participants in this effort and to the world our seriousness of purpose. It remains to be seen whether Iran has that same seriousness of purpose,” he told reporters.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif replied on Twitter on Thursday, saying Iran’s “seriousness of purpose” has been tested over the past three years, since former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal and began imposing sanctions. “Iran – by remaining in the deal – passed with flying colors,” said Zarif.
The landmark nuclear deal has been on life support since Trump pulled out in 2018 and Iran began to walk back in its obligations in response to US sanctions. The administration of US President Joe Biden wants to rejoin and they have been engaged in indirect discussions with Tehran in Vienna to find a way they can both return to full compliance with the accord.
Iran’s Supreme Leader gave his approval for the discussions in Vienna, but cautioned against letting the talks drag on.
“I have no problem with this,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday regarding Iranian officials participating in the talks, “but they should be careful not to let negotiations become too draining or allow the other side to lengthen the negotiations too much, because this is detrimental to the country.”
He also expressed doubt about the sincerity of the other parties, saying the Americans “have an aggressive attitude. They try to impose their demands,” and the Europeans “confirm in private meeting that what Iran says in correct, and that the Iranians are right. But when it comes to decision-making, they follow them [the US]. They are not truly independent in any way.”