Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday, after another round of nuclear talks in Vienna, that an agreement could be reached in a short time if the US acts with “honesty”.
Why it’s important: Rouhani’s optimism comes as representatives of Iran and other world powers, including the U.S., are about to begin drafting a plan to restore the 2015 nuclear deal.
“Talks in Vienna have advanced by about 60, 70% and if Americans act within the framework of honesty, we will achieve results in no time.”
– Hassan Rouhani at a meeting with political activists in Tehran
Leading the news: Senior diplomats from Iran, the EU, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia and China met today in Vienna to review progress made by two expert working groups.
- The groups have focused on the necessary steps by the US to ease sanctions and by Iran on its nuclear program. The EU announced that a third group would now be formed to focus on sequencing these potential US and Iranian measures.
- U.S. envoy Rob Malley and his team did not attend the plenary meeting, but held indirect talks with the Iranians through EU representatives. They also met with members of the other delegations in Vienna.
- State Department spokesman Ned Price said the talks in Vienna this week were business and positive, but “we still have a long way to go. Most of the way is still ahead of us.”
- Price said the United States and Iran have a common goal of restoring the deal, but the United States will not make concessions without being sure that Iran will fulfill it again.
What follows: Members of the various delegations are expected to return to their capitals for consultations and then return to Vienna for another round of talks next week, the EU said in a statement.