Speaking in a televised interview on Monday night, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi said an ultimate nuclear accord is not even “physically and operationally” reachable in the next round of talks on September 18.
Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to continue negotiations for settling a decade-long standoff on Tehran’s nuclear case.
“There are differences, some of them very deep, but there are solutions for some of them and our efforts will continue,” Araqchi said.
Even if the negotiating parties resolve the problems in New York, a “considerable” span of time will be needed to reach a consensus on the details and appendices of the accord, the top diplomat explained.
Araqchi, however, expressed the hope that a deal would be hammered out before a November 24 deadline, provided that “Iran’s demands are met”.
“No deal will be made unless all issues are agreed upon,” he stressed.
Among the major issues that Iran will definitely insist on is its nuclear enrichment, which must remain an “industrial program,” added Araqchi.
The other important issues include Iran’s Arak heavy-water reactor, he said, noting that the country’s scientists managed to allay concerns over the site by introducing new designs.
“Another significant issue in the negotiations is how the sanctions will be removed, which we think is a key discussion,” he said.
Last November, Iran and the sextet of nations signed an interim deal in Geneva, which took effect on January 20 and expired six months later on July 20. In July, the two sides agreed to extend negotiations until November 24 after they failed to reach common ground on a number of key issues.