Iran’s lead nuclear negotiator has returned to the Vienna talks with new demands at a time when Tehran has specified three core unresolved issues, while Paris emphasized the pressing need for negotiators to reach an agreement this week.
Upon his return to Palais Coburg in Vienna, chief Iranian negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani kicked off consultations with officials from other delegations.
Russia’s top negotiator in Iran nuclear talks said intensive work is ahead and a last effort is needed to wrap up the negotiations to revive the 2015 agreement.
“Intensive work is ahead of us to wrap up the negotiations on restoration of the JCPOA,” tweeted Mikhail Ulyanov, using the official acronym for the Iran nuclear deal.
Two sources close to the talks told Reuters that Iran had submitted new demands, while continuing to insist on existing ones, including the removal of a US foreign terrorist organization (FTO) designation against Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC).
“Iran’s stance after Bagheri’s trip to Tehran has become even more uncompromising,” said one of the sources. “They now insist on removal of sanctions on the IRGC and want to open issues that had already been agreed.”
France said on Monday it was “critical” that negotiators try to reach an agreement this week.
“There is a critical urgency to conclude the negotiations this week,” a foreign ministry spokeswoman said.
“Tehran is playing with fire,” chief French negotiator Philippe Errera tweeted, adding that Iran must know to what extent to which it can go.
Errera said that the three negotiating European countries know where to stop.
