Zarif and Kerry's Bilateral Meeting Ends; 'Discussion of Various Scenarios'

The bilateral meeting between John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif, the foreign ministers of the United States and Iran, concluded in Vienna on Sunday evening during the nuclear negotiations. An official close to the Iranian nuclear negotiating team stated that in this 75-minute meeting, Kerry and Zarif discussed 'various scenarios including the continuation of negotiations.' This official told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) that 'various nuclear issues and related solutions were discussed during the meeting.' According to reports, 'this was the first bilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States since the victory of the Islamic Revolution.' Reports indicate that after his discussions with Zarif, Kerry will engage in a working dinner with the foreign ministers of Britain, France, and Germany, as well as Catherine Ashton, the coordinator of the 5+1 group. Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, also arrived in Vienna on Sunday and is set to meet with the Iranian foreign minister. The Chinese foreign minister is expected to travel to Vienna on Tuesday. Meanwhile, some reports suggest the possibility of extending the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the 1+5 group. On the other hand, a member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team has denied the formation of a 'political agreement' between Iran and the 1+5 group, especially with the United States. This member stated in an interview with IRNA that 'no political agreement has been reached so far and negotiations are ongoing.' Meanwhile, a source close to the Iranian negotiating team described the fifth meeting between Zarif, Kerry, and Ashton as 'good.' Diplomatic sources close to the nuclear negotiations in Vienna told Reuters that achieving a comprehensive and final agreement by Tuesday is unlikely. Earlier, Hannah Kavyani, a reporter for Radio Farda in Vienna, reported that reaching a comprehensive and final agreement on Iran's nuclear file by December 3 is practically off the table, and the parties are now continuing discussions to achieve a 'political agreement on the generalities.' In response to reports about the extension of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the 1+5 group, a member of the Iranian negotiating team stated to IRNA that 'there is no talk of extending negotiations.' This member, who requested anonymity, added that 'there has been no discussion of an extension so far, and our focus is on reaching a comprehensive agreement.' Meanwhile, a source close to the Iranian negotiating team described the fifth trilateral meeting of Kerry, Ashton, and Zarif as 'good.' This source, who requested anonymity, stated after the trilateral meeting that 'it was a good session but there is still a lot of work ahead.' This source added that 'it is still too early for a final judgment.' According to this report, the trilateral meeting between Zarif, Kerry, and Ashton will continue on Sunday afternoon. Reports also indicate that Kerry met on Sunday with Prince Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister. According to a reporter from Radio Farda in Vienna, Kerry will also attend a working dinner with his counterparts from Britain, France, and Germany, as well as Ashton, the coordinator of the member countries in the nuclear negotiations with Iran. Discussions for a 'political agreement on the generalities' are ongoing. A senior member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team stated that Iran, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China have prepared part of the draft of the final and comprehensive agreement, which includes the generalities of this agreement, during multiple expert discussions over the past year. This Iranian negotiator told Radio Farda that the Islamic Republic and the 1+5 are now seeking to reach a political agreement that will pave the way for completing this draft that leads to a comprehensive and final agreement. The Iranian diplomat added that 'a few days to a few weeks' will be needed to complete this draft, provided that a 'political agreement' is reached. 'The dimensions of the uranium enrichment program, the number of centrifuges and the timeline of activities, how to lift sanctions, and how to operate various nuclear facilities in Fordow, Arak, etc.,' are generalities that, according to Radio Farda's reporter in Vienna, Iran and the 1+5 must first agree on before they can continue discussions on how to implement them. Whispers about Iran's readiness to extend nuclear negotiations with global powers are heard while Iranian negotiating officials had previously stated that Tehran is not seeking to extend the negotiation deadline. According to a report sent by Radio Farda's correspondent in Vienna, Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, has also announced that he will join the discussions on Tuesday morning if there are signs of a potential political agreement between Iran and the 1+5 group. Iran and the 1+5 group, which includes the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany, have until December 3 to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement. Iran's nuclear program has been stuck in a negotiation deadlock for over a decade, and no comprehensive agreement has yet been reached to alleviate international concerns and ensure its peaceful nature. Iran and the 1+5 reached a temporary agreement in Geneva, Switzerland, last December 3, under which Tehran suspended its uranium enrichment above five percent and halted activities at certain sites, including the heavy water reactor in Arak and the Fordow facility. In return, the member countries of this group refrained from imposing new sanctions against Tehran and released some of Iran's frozen assets resulting from oil sales. The main disputes between the parties revolve around the extent of continued enrichment in Iran, Tehran's responses to the agency's questions, and how to lift international sanctions against the Islamic Republic.