Iraqi: The Path to a Nuclear Agreement Has Been Largely Cleared

According to the state news agency IRNA, Abbas Araghchi, a senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiation team, stated in a meeting with Lapo Pistelli, the Italian Deputy Foreign Minister, on Wednesday, December 3, "After several months of hard negotiations and addressing highly technical and complex issues, the path to reaching an understanding has been largely cleared, and if the Western side is genuinely determined to reach a mutually acceptable agreement, the conditions are more favorable than ever." The Italian Deputy Foreign Minister also mentioned in this meeting that "the nuclear negotiations have shown that dialogue can be a suitable model for cooperation between the parties on regional and international issues." Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, said on Tuesday, December 2, that negotiations with the P5+1 group plus one are nearing a "successful conclusion." Jen Psaki, the spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, emphasized that the U.S. government is not inclined to impose new sanctions while a "joint action" is being undertaken between Iran and the P5+1, expressing hope that the parties would reach an agreement for a comprehensive action by the end of March, after which experts would finalize the details. On Wednesday, December 3, AFP reported that Wendy Sherman, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, plans to lead a delegation of senior American diplomats this week to "strongly argue" to American lawmakers to refrain from adding further sanctions against Iran. Iran's Foreign Minister also mentioned that the negotiations have led to "the production of security, authority, influence, and reduced vulnerability of the Islamic Republic of Iran," stating that Iran has become "safer" as a result of these negotiations and that no one can "beat the drum of war against this people" anymore. In response to domestic critics of the nuclear negotiations, he said, "Anyone who says the negotiations are nothing has no understanding of the negotiations." Previously, according to the state news agency IRNA, Ali Akbar Velayati, head of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Discernment Council, stated on December 1 that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, has approved the negotiations and the negotiation team, saying, "No one should speak against these negotiations anymore." In this context, Wendy Sherman is "seeking to prevent further sanctions" against Iran in Congress, while the time and place for the next round of nuclear negotiations "are not specified." Senator Corker mentioned that the new Congress will play a role in the nuclear negotiations with Iran. The article also touches on various issues including the shadow of war over Tehran, Trump's military options against Iran, and the Iranian government's statements regarding casualties during protests.