Iran's Nuclear Negotiator Stresses Reciprocal Nature of Deals
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, who was delegated by his boss to lead his country's team of negotiators, Abbas Araqchi, said in Geneva that any nuclear agreement needs to be bolstered by guarantees from both sides.
“This is a two-way path and any guarantee is bilateral,” Araqchi told Tasnim News Agency, when asked if the West would remain committed to its agreements with Iran.
Speaking to reporters after conclusion of the two-day nuclear talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) in the Swiss city of Geneva on Wednesday, Araqchi had also stated on Wednesday night that “despite difference” the two sides “are moving in right direction to remove differences”.
He further noted that the western parties were serious in their talks with Iran in Geneva.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a press conference in Geneva that the Islamic Republic was “optimistic” that it could reach a common goal with the other side.
“The negotiations show both sides are serious and want to create common ground,” said Zarif who stressed the need for political will to address the existing problems and to “move ahead.”
The Iranian minister once again reiterated the purely civilian nature of his country's nuclear program, but said Tehran is ready to address any reasonable concern over its program in good faith.
Araqchi had earlier said snap visits to Iranian nuclear sites, which are part of the Additional Protocol, as well as lowering uranium enrichment levels were part of the last step of Iran's package of proposals presented to the other side on Tuesday.
The Additional Protocol substantially expands the IAEA's ability to check for clandestine nuclear facilities by providing the agency with authority to visit any facility, declared or not, to investigate questions about or inconsistencies in a state's nuclear declarations. States party to the NPT are not required to adopt an additional protocol, although the IAEA is urging all to do so.
