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US Softened Demand in Recent Nuclear Talks

US Softened Demand in Recent Nuclear Talks
US Softened Demand in Recent Nuclear Talks

The United States softened its demand that Iran significantly reduce the number of its working centrifuge machines under a final nuclear deal in the most recent round of nuclear talks with the major powers in Vienna, a lawmaker quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as saying in a meeting of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee on Sunday.

"The senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team said although the United States had not accepted that Iran maintain over 1,300 centrifuges in operation in (previous rounds of talks) in Vienna and New York, it accepted in the recent negotiations that Iran keep 4,000 working centrifuges," MP Javad Karimi Qoddousi told the Mehr news agency on Monday. Iran has installed about 19,000 centrifuges, of which roughly half are operating.   

According to ICANA, Araqchi had appeared in the meeting to brief lawmakers on the process of nuclear talks with the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany).

  Proposals Under Discussion   

After the meeting, the senior nuclear negotiator said differences remain between the two sides on all issues, but if the other side negotiates in "good faith" and "pays more attention to the ideas and proposals of the Islamic Republic of Iran," it is possible to reach a final nuclear deal to resolve the dispute over Tehran's nuclear program by the November 24 target date.

"Various ideas and options have been raised with regard to the differences, but we have not reached any agreement yet," he said.  

On the report that the US has made a proposal which envisages the shipping out of low-enriched uranium out of the country, he said, "None of the media speculations at the present time are true."

Iran and the six major powers are trying to build on an interim nuclear accord they reached in Geneva last November to hammer out a long-term settlement to the nuclear dispute.

The most recent round of high-level nuclear talks between Iran and the major powers, which was held in the Austrian capital from October 14 to 16, made “some progress.”

 

Financialtribune.com