Iraqchi: Iran's Nuclear Negotiations with the 1+5 Group in Muscat Went 'Badly'

The spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Parliament, quoting Abbas Iraqchi, a member of Iran's nuclear negotiation team, announced that the nuclear negotiations with the 1+5 group in Muscat went 'badly' and that the Iranian negotiation team was considering 'ending the negotiations.' According to ISNA news agency, Hossein Naqavi Hosseini referred to Iraqchi's report during a session of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission on Tuesday, December 9, stating that members of the Iranian nuclear negotiation team believe that an agreement could be reached with the Western side in less than seven months. He further emphasized: 'According to Mr. Iraqchi's statements, the Muscat negotiations went badly, and under such circumstances, the nuclear negotiation team was thinking about ending the negotiations, but the extension of the negotiations was also made based on a reasonable decision.' Aladdin Boroujerdi, the head of the National Security Commission of the Iranian Parliament, had also described the negotiations between Tehran and the 1+5 group in the Omani capital as 'challenging, serious, and bitter' on November 13. Gholamali Jafarzadeh, a representative from Rasht, quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on December 8, stating that the Muscat negotiations were 'difficult, bitter, and hard,' with most sessions starting 'harshly' and ending with 'discontent and complaints.' The spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission further noted: 'At the beginning of this session, Iraqchi emphasized the groundwork for continuing the negotiations in the Geneva agreement, stating that the gap between the two sides was very large, and after the negotiations and the Geneva agreement, many common points were achieved.' He added: 'However, this gap is still large, and the red lines of both sides remain intact, although the other side has made changes to its demands and red lines, and to narrow the gaps, the negotiations have been extended for another seven months.' Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, stated on Tuesday that in the nuclear negotiations with the 1+5 group, the topics of 'enrichment,' 'heavy water,' 'sanctions,' and 'Fordow' are being discussed, and the parties have come closer in these 'areas.' The spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission also mentioned: 'The Deputy Foreign Minister stated in today's session: 'It has been agreed that within the next four months, we will reach a general agreement in the sessions and in the following three months, we will discuss and exchange views on the details.' He quoted Mr. Iraqchi as saying that the longer the negotiations last, the 'harder' the conditions will become, and the pressure on the Western parties will also 'increase,' adding: 'Zionists and some regional countries oppose any kind of agreement and even try to provoke the West against Iran, even at a military level.'