Crunch nuclear talks between Iran and world powers enter a make-or-break third day on Friday, with Tehran complaining of ‘no progress’ so far on narrowing considerable differences.
This third round of talks in Geneva since president Hassan Rouhani was elected in June are seen as the biggest hope in years in resolving the decade-old standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Reaching an agreement palatable to sceptical hardliners both in the United States and in the Islamic republic – and Israel – is a big ask, however.
Failure might mean Iran resuming the expansion of its atomic activities, Washington and others adding to already painful sanctions, and possible Israeli military action. Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany, known as the P5+1, want Iran to freeze for a period of six months parts of its nuclear programme.
In return Iran would get minor and, Western officials insist, ‘reversible’ sanctions relief, including unlocking several billion dollars in oil revenues stuck in international bank accounts. This hoped-for ‘first phase’ deal would build trust and ease tensions while Iran and the six powers hammer out a final accord that ends once and for all fears that Tehran will get an atomic bomb.
‘A first step is a very, very important deal because it means that a deal has been struck, which changes the atmosphere, changes the conversation,’ said Trita Parsi, author and president of the National Iranian American Council.