Abbas Araghchi: The main text of the comprehensive nuclear agreement is nearly complete

Abbas Araghchi, a senior member of Iran's negotiating team, announced on Tuesday, July 6, that the main text of the comprehensive nuclear agreement between Iran and the 1+5 group is 'almost complete' with only a few more paragraphs remaining. According to the ISNA news agency, Araghchi stated: 'We have completed the texts of the agreement as much as possible, and the sections of the agreement and annexes that are still in parentheses depend on decisions at the level of foreign ministers. The main text of the agreement is nearly complete, and there is nothing left except for a few paragraphs that require ministerial decisions.' The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister continued: 'Discussions regarding the nuclear annex are ongoing between Salehi and Moniz, and there have been very good advancements, bringing us close to the final stages. The sanctions annex is also over 95 to 96 percent complete, with perhaps two or three minor issues remaining.' On the same day, the United States announced that despite the deadline for extending nuclear negotiations ending on Tuesday, July 6, the discussions would continue until Friday, three days later. In this context, the suspension of sanctions against Iran as per the interim Geneva agreement will remain in effect until Friday. According to the IRNA news agency, Abbas Araghchi referred to the bilateral meetings between Iran and the 1+5 group and internal meetings of the 1+5, stating: 'The work is hard, and the issues have reached a stage of high sensitivity, but we are trying to reduce the existing differences and, if possible, reach an agreement.' Regarding the statement by American officials that 'contrary to resolutions 1929 and 1747, the sale and purchase of conventional weapons is among your prohibitions,' he said: 'The basis of the Security Council resolutions is the arms embargo against Iran.' Since the Iranian nuclear file was transferred from the International Atomic Energy Agency to the United Nations Security Council, the council has issued six resolutions imposing sanctions against Iran. According to these resolutions, Iran's missile program and the export and import of weapons have also been sanctioned. Abbas Araghchi added: 'Our demand is that following this agreement, the issue of sanctions be completely set aside, and the Western parties and our counterparts be prepared to abandon the sanctions. It is not possible to have an agreement alongside a regime and structure of sanctions. This approach must definitely change.' He further stated: 'We have reached an agreement and conclusion regarding the main sanctions we are concerned about, which are economic and financial sanctions, and all sanctions will be lifted on the first day of implementation, but there are ongoing disagreements regarding some other sanctions, such as arms sanctions.' However, a senior member of the Iranian negotiating team said: 'The arms embargo is not an important issue in itself, but the fact that it should remain as a sanction within the framework of sanctions and the structure of sanctions must change.' In this context, an American official said on Tuesday to AFP: 'In a potential agreement with Iran, sanctions regarding the missile program and the arms trade of the Islamic Republic will continue.' In this context, a report on Wednesday regarding the nuclear negotiations from Vienna indicated that a draft resolution of the Security Council concerning Iran is 'being prepared.'