Zarif in Vienna: I Have Come to Reach a Final Agreement

Despite the red lines recently emphasized by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic regarding nuclear negotiations, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated on Tuesday, July 9, in Vienna that he has been given the authority to negotiate for a final nuclear agreement. According to a reporter from Radio Farda in Vienna, Zarif, after a bilateral discussion with his American counterpart, responded to journalists' questions about whether he has the authority to negotiate for a final agreement by saying, "I did not come to gain authority. I was given this authority beforehand to negotiate, and I am here now to reach a final agreement, and I believe we will succeed." Zarif, who was in Vienna for nuclear negotiations, had traveled to Tehran on Monday and returned to Vienna on Tuesday. According to the report, John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, also stated after his meeting with Zarif on Tuesday that they had a "good conversation" when asked if Zarif's remarks had encouraged him. Zarif, upon his arrival in Vienna on Tuesday, mentioned that the nuclear negotiations have reached a "very sensitive stage." He also added that "what is needed more than anything is the political will of the other side." The head of the Iranian negotiating team regarding the final nuclear agreement, which has only one day left to reach, stated, "I think the basis of that agreement should be Lausanne. In this case, there is a possibility of reaching a solution." Iran and six world powers are working on drafting the final nuclear agreement following a framework established in Lausanne, Switzerland, on April 2, which must be completed by July 1. According to Hana Kavyani, a reporter from Radio Farda in Vienna, Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, also joined the negotiations in Vienna on Tuesday, and Zarif mentioned that Salehi's presence would be "very useful" for the negotiation process. Hossein Fereydoun, the brother and special assistant to President Hassan Rouhani, also traveled to Vienna with Salehi. Reports indicate that the negotiations on Tuesday are expected to involve more bilateral meetings between the foreign ministers of Iran, the U.S., and Russia. In this context, Zarif is expected to meet either with John Kerry or with Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, while Kerry and Lavrov will also hold a separate meeting. Reports suggest that the German Foreign Minister will not be able to attend Tuesday's talks due to his schedule, and the participation of the French Foreign Minister in the Vienna negotiations has yet to be confirmed. John Kerry stated on Monday that it is still too early to ensure the finalization of the nuclear agreement. On the same day, Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, mentioned that the nuclear negotiations with Iran in Vienna would continue after Tuesday. The issue of lifting sanctions against Iran is a top priority for the Iranian negotiating team, while the global powers prioritize addressing concerns regarding Iran's nuclear program. Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, recently set red lines for the Iranian negotiating team, stating that the lifting of Western sanctions "should not be contingent upon Iran's commitments being fulfilled."