Iraqi: Next Round of Nuclear Talks Likely in New York

Abbas Araghchi, a senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team, stated that there is a "high probability" that the next round of talks with global powers will take place in New York City, USA, on the sidelines of an international disarmament conference. New York will host meetings and sessions related to disarmament from April 13 to 17 and also on the 24th, 27th, and 28th of this month (Farvardin and Ordibehesht 1394), but Mr. Araghchi did not specify on which of these dates the nuclear talks would be held. The Tasnim news agency reported that this deputy foreign minister of Iran explained on Thursday, April 20, that Iranian officials are in discussions with Helga Schmid, the Deputy High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, "to discuss the date and location of the upcoming negotiations and how to advance the modalities and format of the talks." Iran, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, and Germany have set a deadline until the end of June (10 Tir) to reach a comprehensive and final solution regarding Iran's nuclear program. The parties have until then to resolve their differences and draft the final agreement in the ongoing talks. According to Mr. Araghchi, the upcoming negotiations will be at the deputy minister level, and alongside these discussions, "expert negotiations will continue, and if necessary, ministers will also be present." Iran demands that all international sanctions related to its nuclear program be completely lifted as soon as a potential nuclear agreement is implemented, but the United States claims that this expectation is unrealistic. Abbas Araghchi also stated that drafting the final agreement text is a "complex task." However, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, emphasized Iran's "red lines" in these negotiations, stating that there is "no guarantee" for a final agreement. Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, told Islamic Republic TV that Iran is "negotiating with several countries" to "begin two small nuclear power plants on the Makran coast if a final agreement is reached." Mr. Salehi added that these negotiations have made "good progress" and that "the preparations and sites for these power plants have been identified, but a formal agreement has not yet been reached." The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization stated that "from now on, Iran's strategy is to move towards small power plants as they are suitable for Iran's climatic conditions and industrial capabilities." Iran currently has a 1000-megawatt nuclear power plant in Bushehr. In this context, Iran has described the new sanctions from the European Union as "contrary to good faith."