Rafael Grossi: Agreement with Iran is possible if there is political will
The IAEA Director General says an agreement with Iran is possible if there is political will, but time is running short. Ulyanov, Russia’s representative, also says Iran and the US have a chance of reaching an agreement despite their differences. Iran’s Foreign Minister called for “good faith” from the West.
On the fourth day of negotiations to revive the JCPOA in Vienna, discussions regarding “the possibility of reaching an agreement with Iran,” “Iran’s return to the JCPOA and the lifting of sanctions” have intensified.
Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on Wednesday, December 1st, in an interview with France 24 news channel that if there is political will, an agreement with Iran is possible, but the remaining time is also limited. Grossi emphasized that it would be in the interest of the Islamic Republic to show greater transparency in cooperation with the IAEA.
He confirmed that Iran does not have 90 percent enrichment and regarding the current negotiation process in Vienna, he said that the seventh round of Vienna talks is proceeding based on the six previous rounds of negotiations and is not starting from zero.
The IAEA Director General also emphasized that further uranium enrichment and the launch of a new generation of centrifuges have made Iran’s return to the agreement more difficult.
Grossi said Iran must allow IAEA inspectors unrestricted and free access to nuclear sites, including the Fordow site.
The International Atomic Energy Agency in its latest report had reported 20 percent uranium enrichment at the Fordow site.
Russia: Agreement between Iran and the US is possible despite differences
Russian news agency Sputnik also reported, citing Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna, that an agreement between the US and Iran is possible despite the differences they have.
Ulyanov said Russia is concerned about Iran’s action in beginning 20 percent uranium enrichment at the Fordow nuclear facility and that Tehran is going too far in this regard. Nevertheless, he emphasized that there is a real chance to resolve everything through negotiation and diplomacy, and added that Iran has departed from the JCPOA in many of its positions, but this is not “due to Tehran’s malice” but rather in response to “the US irresponsible maximum pressure policy” and its sanctions against Iran.
Russia’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency said Moscow has concluded that it is necessary for both Iran and the US to fully return to the nuclear agreement.
Good faith between Iran and the West
Reports regarding 20 percent uranium enrichment at Fordow have concerned Western countries. Western diplomats have emphasized that the Islamic Republic should have halted uranium enrichment during the time of negotiations in order to demonstrate “good faith.”
In response, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran’s Foreign Minister, called for “good faith from the West” in a tweet. Amir-Abdollahian wrote on his Twitter page: “If the West demonstrates good faith, a good agreement is within reach. The Iranian negotiating delegation is pursuing a logical, strong, firm, and result-oriented approach.”
Source: DW
