(VOVworld) – Iran and the P5+1 have agreed to continue talks for another 4 months toward achieving a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. Analysts said the deadline extension is a gesture of goodwill to reach a long-term, sustainable and trustworthy deal.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that the deadline extension indicates an active atmosphere and points out remaining differences, which need to be addressed to achieve a comprehensive nuclear deal. Speaking on Iran’s Press TV on Tuesday, President Hassan Rouhani said dialogue is the only solution and that Iran is ready to cooperate in conformity with international regulations to achieve its target of using nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
President of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi said Tehran and the P5+1 agreeing to extend nuclear talks from July 20 to November 24 demonstrates both sides’ desire for a comprehensive deal.
Positive signs from negotiations
Since the Geneva interim agreement was reached in late 2013, despite many remaining differences, there has been hope for a final agreement. Both sides have found common awareness that dialogue is the only solution to resolve Tehran’s nuclear program, which has been controversial for many years.
Prior to the talks, Iran sent a strong message to the US and western countries that Iran does not care about developing nuclear weapons and can guarantee its influence in the region without nuclear weapons. Iran said it will take all necessary steps to convince the world that it does not develop such weapons. The reliability of Iran’s statement has been consolidated when a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency on Monday said that Iran has seriously implemented all provisions of the Geneva agreement. In particular, Iran has stopped uranium enrichment at 20%, a controversial issue in its nuclear program and turned its remaining stock of 20-percent-enriched uranium into uranium oxide powder. Iran has also agreed to stop enriching uranium beyond the five-percent grade. US President Barack Obama has acknowledged Iran’s serious implementation of its commitments and constructive participation in nuclear talks.
In response to Iran’s goodwill, the EU has decided to extend the suspension of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program until November 24, the deadline to end nuclear talks. The suspension allows the provision of insurance and transport in relation to Iranian crude oil sales to current customers, import, purchase or transport of Iranian petrochemical products, as well as trade in gold and precious metals with the Iranian government and its public bodies. The increased level of financial transactions from and to Iran will continue to be effective during the next 4 months.
Dialogue to settle differences
The international community is optimistic about a long-term agreement between Iran and major world powers to end the nuclear stalemate, which has lasted for a decade already. The biggest difference now is Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Iran insists it needs to increase the scale of uranium enrichment to produce materials for its nuclear power plants. However, the P5+1, particularly the US worry that Tehran could enrich uranium to produce materials for making nuclear bombs. Another major difference is that while Iran wants all restrictions on its nuclear program removed within 3 to 7 years, the US insists on maintaining them for another 10 years.
Public opinions believe 4 months are enough for parties concerned to reach a final agreement. Dialogue will be the only solution to narrow differences and it is time for Iran to choose either to cooperate with the international community to restore its economy or be isolated.