Resumption of Nuclear Negotiations with Iran and the U.S. Meeting in Geneva Next Week

Another round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group will begin next Thursday, January 25, with a bilateral meeting of Iranian and American delegations in Geneva, Switzerland. The U.S. State Department announced on Thursday, January 18, that Wendy Sherman, Deputy Secretary of State, will again lead the U.S. delegation, which will engage in discussions with the Iranian delegation for two days, from January 25 to 27. After that, Helga Schmid, the political deputy of the European Union, will represent the P5+1 group and lead negotiations with Iran on January 28. Iran and the P5+1 agreed on December 3 to extend negotiations for another seven months, until June 30, 2015. The parties are expected to reach a political agreement on key issues by the end of February and a comprehensive final agreement by July 9, clarifying details and technical issues. Additionally, the U.S. has agreed to release another portion of Iran's frozen assets during this period, while Iran must maintain its uranium enrichment program at 5% in accordance with the interim Geneva agreement and refrain from further activities at the Fordow facility and the Arak heavy water reactor, as well as from installing advanced centrifuges. The nuclear negotiations are resuming next week amid increasing pressure from the U.S. Congress for heightened sanctions on Iran, despite opposition from the Obama administration. On the other hand, Ayatollah Khamenei acknowledged last Wednesday that sanctions have created 'problems' for the country but reiterated his distrust of the U.S., stating that he does not oppose negotiations on the nuclear issue. He added that officials should rely on 'resistance economy' instead of clinging to 'fantasy points' and take the 'weapon of sanctions' away from the 'enemy.' In this context, Rouhani called for a referendum on important issues.