Diplomats: Main Disagreements Between Iran and World Powers Remain

The Associated Press reported, citing diplomats familiar with the nuclear negotiations, that disagreements between Iran and world powers remain despite only two weeks left until the deadline for a comprehensive nuclear agreement. This report, published on Wednesday, June 17, reflects the statements of 'two diplomats close to the nuclear negotiations' who predict that these negotiations will not conclude by the set deadline and will therefore be extended again. The new round of negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group, consisting of the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany, began on Wednesday in Vienna at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the six world powers and the deputy foreign policy chief of the European Union, which is expected to last five days. However, the Associated Press writes that what concerns negotiators is the lack of progress on all disputed issues, with Sergey Ryabkov, head of the Russian negotiating team, stating on Friday: 'The pace of progress... is decreasing over time.' Previously, Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, emphasized that he opposes visits by International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to Iran's military sites, while the agency and the French government have noted that visits to Iran's military sites should be part of any potential nuclear agreement. Meanwhile, the Iranian negotiating team and the P5+1 group have begun drafting the comprehensive nuclear agreement, but the Associated Press reports that this draft is filled with parentheses and blank spaces reflecting the disagreements between the parties. According to this news agency, there are about ten disputed issues that must be resolved to reach any agreement. One day before the new round of nuclear negotiations, Abbas Araqchi, Iran's chief negotiator, acknowledged the disagreements, stating that 'some of the disagreements that are somewhat key and fundamental will likely remain for the last days for the ministers to join and decisions to be made at their level.' He noted that one of the most important disputed issues is the 'timing' of the lifting of sanctions and Iran's actions. Iranian officials have emphasized that sanctions against Tehran should be lifted from the day the nuclear agreement is implemented. However, the United States has opposed this issue. Iran and the P5+1 group have set July 1 as the deadline for reaching a comprehensive nuclear agreement.