Negotiations on the Iranian nuclear deal, which seemed well under way a week ago, have been put on hold as Moscow’s request for additional guarantees complicates their progress.
“We had to pause the negotiations, due to external factors,” tweeted Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief coordinating the process.
“A final text is almost ready and on the table”, he added, saying that he remains “in contact” with the various parties and with the United States “to overcome the current situation and conclude an agreement”.
A week ago, diplomats were talking about an imminent agreement, but Moscow, an essential pillar of the negotiations, has cooled the process.
Hit by Western sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has sought American assurances that these retaliatory measures will not affect its economic cooperation with Iran.
Requests deemed inappropriate by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, which interrupted discussions.
Tehran has been embroiled in talks with major powers for 11 months in Vienna, Austria, to try to salvage the 2015 deal.
Concluded by Iran on one side and the US, China, France, UK, Russia and Germany on the other, this pact should prevent Tehran from acquiring the atomic bomb in exchange for lifting the economic sanctions that strangle its economy.
The deal fell apart, however, after Washington’s unilateral withdrawal in 2018, which reinstated its measures against Iran. In response, Iran gradually freed itself from the limits imposed on its nuclear program.
Leaving the Coburg Palace, where the negotiations are taking place, Russian negotiator Mikhail Ulyanov denounced “attempts to blame all” on Moscow.
“The conclusion of the agreement does not depend only on Russia”, he insisted, assuring that he is in favor of a “rapid” conclusion.
Iran, close to Russia, finds itself in a difficult position and, yesterday (10), blamed the United States, which would have formulated “new demands”.
On Friday, Iranian Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Said Khatibzadeh tried to calm tempers. “No external factors will affect our common desire for a collective agreement,” he wrote on Twitter.
“The break can provide the impetus to resolve remaining issues,” he tweeted.
Experts say they are concerned, however, by “Moscow’s instrumentalization of the Iranian question to defend Russian national interests against Washington’s sanctions regime,” according to Clément Therme, a French academic specializing in the Middle East.
“Russia’s game could be to delay the reactivation of the agreement to prevent Iranian oil from entering the market”, which would reduce prices, he explains to AFP.
“By keeping the barrel at a high price, the Kremlin can use the energy weapon against the West,” adds the expert.
The United States, which participates indirectly in the negotiations, reaffirmed on Thursday that an agreement remains “close”.
“We urge all parties, including of course the Russian Federation, to focus on resolving outstanding issues to achieve our common goal of ensuring that Iran is permanently and demonstrably prevented from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” the spokesman insisted. voice of American diplomacy, Ned Price.
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