Zarif on Negotiations: There is Consensus on the Generalities of the Agreement

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated on Tuesday, March 5, at the end of the latest round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva, "We must reach an agreement on all details, as there is consensus on the generalities of the agreement." Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that Iranian and American officials indicated "progress" in the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group on Monday. Zarif mentioned that "it is the details that are taking up the negotiators' time," adding, "If we cannot agree on the details, it is very difficult to talk about an agreement." He explained, "We will not have a partial and general agreement; rather, we believe that the agreement must proceed simultaneously. Of course, we cannot agree on all issues at once, so it is necessary to address the topics one by one, and we are currently doing just that." Zarif added, "Steps have been taken forward on some issues, but ultimately the agreement will be in the form of a collection of details and nuances." The Iranian Foreign Minister did not provide an explanation regarding the nature of the details being discussed. However, he warned that "if the American side wants to use pressure tactics, it will have a negative effect," emphasizing that "we do not intend to leave the negotiations." On the same day, the Associated Press reported that Zarif stated at the end of the negotiations on Monday that the negotiating parties had reached "a better understanding." According to the news agency, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also mentioned at the negotiation table while bidding farewell to the American negotiating team that "we have made progress." However, Iranian and American officials added that there are still obstacles to reaching an agreement by the March 31 deadline, and any agreement will face "strong opposition" from some factions within both countries. The new round of bilateral negotiations between Iran and the U.S. began on Friday, initially at the level of deputy foreign ministers, but escalated to a higher level on Sunday with the presence of Zarif, Kerry, Ali Akbar Salehi, and Ernest Moniz. The Associated Press reported that the United States initially sought to impose restrictions on Iran's nuclear program for 20 years, while Iran insisted on a period of less than 10 years. One of the options discussed in the nuclear negotiations was for Iran to accept strict control over its uranium enrichment for 10 years, with the possibility of gradually lifting restrictions during the last five years if implemented correctly. Uranium enrichment by the Islamic Republic has been contested by Western powers due to its potential for producing nuclear weapons, but Iran has always emphasized that its intention for enrichment is solely for peaceful purposes.