"NO Deal?" - Substantial Differences Remain after Russian and Chinese negotiator, say Iran needs to revise its demands for large numbers of centrifuges.HT: UskowiOnIran.
Drafting of the final Iran nuclear accord got underway in Vienna on Wednesday, but there are reports that many substantial differences remain, including the number of centrifuges Iran could maintain in its nuclear program.
Al-Monitor reports that the Russian and Chinese negotiator, in an unusual development, said Iran needed to revise its demands for large numbers of centrifuges, joining the U.S. and the EU on the issue.
It appears that the parties, Iran and p5+1, have agreed on the title of the final agreement: “Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.”
Aside from that title, which could soon be called JCPOA, apparently not much progress on the text of the agreement has been made so far. This latest round of negotiations was scheduled to end on Thursday.
From what is reported of the talks so far, it seems that signing the JCPOA by 20 July deadline seems increasingly unlikely, and the six-month transition period under the current interim JPOA needs to be renewed.
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif still sounded optimistic, saying the final deal could be struck in July. But Mr. Zarif’s optimism could be because of his zeal to finalize the deal and to have the sanctions lifted as soon as possible.
Iran was spending billions of dollars on the Syrian war, and now might be forced to spend billions of dollars more on the Iraqi conflict. The country needs to sell oil and use global banking system to finance the two wars.
Considering that urgent need, Zarif might be saying something profound:
The JCPOA will be signed, Iran will sign it, even if it has to give in on its demands, including the number of centrifuges.
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