Need to Avoid Prolonging Vienna Talks

It is essential for all state bodies to support the government’s efforts in Vienna negotiations to remove the sanctions as soon as possible as it is in everybody’s interest, experts say. 
“It is an appropriate time for solidarity inside the country toward an earliest possible conclusion of the Vienna talks and lifting of sanctions,” Hassan Beheshtipour, a foreign policy expert, told IRNA. 
The talks in the Austrian capital started in early April to help restore the 2015 nuclear deal that has been unravelling since the United States pulled out unilaterally in 2018 and Iran reciprocated by scaling down its commitments in response to the American reimposition of sanctions. 
Good progress has been made through four rounds of negotiations so far, according to the participants, but there are still key issues to be resolved as the talks entered a fifth round.  
The administration of President Hassan Rouhani is seriously pursuing the agenda of removing the sanctions during the final days of his term. 
Iran is holding a presidential election in June 18, in which Rouhani cannot run again due to term restrictions. 
Rumors went around that he aimed to use a success in the Vienna talks as a trump card for his party in the incoming poll, with widespread speculations about Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s candidacy.  
However, the list of candidates disproved such ambitions. 

No Insurmountable Obstacle 

“Now that political issues are set aside and opposing parties are certain that the government does not intend to use the negotiations for electoral purposes, all entities, especially official bodies such as parliament, must support the administration so that the Vienna talks can be concluded as soon as possible and people’s economic issues can be alleviated,” Beheshtipour said. 
Diako Hosseini, a senior researcher on strategic issues, also highlighted the great progress of the talks and agreements reached on fundamental differences, saying there is no insurmountable obstacle today to the revival of the nuclear deal, which is formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
“If JCPOA restoration is realized before the change of government, it can be a great achievement for the future administration and remove the impediments [to economic development],” he said. 
“If this happens today, it will be in everybody’s interest.” 
Emad Abshenas, on the other hand, says all developments are dependent on the results of the elections. 
The US seems to be waiting for the results of the elections and whether or not it can make a deal with the incoming president, according to the international affairs analyst.  
It might also try to finalize an agreement earlier while Rouhani’s moderate government is in power, he added.  
“If they make certain that the next administration is not open to a deal with the US, they may come to an agreement before election results are out so as to put Iran under JCPOA obligation,” he said.