June 23, 2012 - 14:14 AMT
ARTICLE
Show must go on: Iran to face P5+1 in Istanbul again
Meanwhile, sanctions basically hit Europe harder than Iran, particularly given the current oil price decline, which tends to continue.
Another round of talks between the six world powers and Iran failed to reach consensus on Tehran’s nuke program. The parties did not manage to come to an agreement in principle, their stances being absolutely opposite. Iran believes it has the right for nuclear energy, and he can’t be denied this, while the West opposes it, stirred by Israel’s artificial concerns.

Following the recent meeting, the French Foreign Ministry urged for toughened sanctions against Iran, but EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton declared that Tehran began to address the substance for the first time, according to media reports.

“The tough and frank talks between the parties still leave significant disagreements,” Ashton stated after the negotiations. The world powers are trying to press Iran into abandoning enrichment of uranium to 20% purity, while Iran insists on further enrichment and seeks the world states’ written approval of its right for developing its peaceful nuclear program.

Meanwhile, sanctions basically hit Europe harder than Iran, particularly given the current oil price decline, which tends to continue. Actually, the West, reluctant to reach an agreement with Iran, has driven itself into a deadlock. Also, the demonstration of force and warnings of a military solution of the nuke program obviously have no effect on Iran.

The Moscow talks resulted in agreement to hold a follow-up meeting in Istanbul on July 3. EU According to EU foreign policy chief, after the technical expert-level meeting in Istanbul, deputies of Ashton and Jalili will meet.

Saeed Jalili, chief Iranian negotiator and secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said the Moscow talks were more serious and more realistic than the previous ones. At the same time, he reiterated Iran’s position insisting on its inalienable right for uranium enrichment.

“The expert meeting can provide clear ideas for negotiations. The international mediators currently face serious challenge to win Iran’s confidence; however, the large-scale embargo on Iranian oil purchase the EU states are going to introduce starting July 1 may halt the negotiation process,” Jalili stated.

For his part, the U.S. administration representative declared that Iran has now to make a choice.

“Tehran provided much information, and so did we. Iran has now to consider its choice in this situation,” he noted.

At the same time, Israel is repeatedly hinting at potential military action against Iran unless the latter gives up the idea of nuclear weapon Israel and Western countries suspect it is developing.

The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Iran; in addition, several countries and organizations approved various resolutions urging Iran to ensure total transparency of its nuclear program and prove its peaceful purposes. In particular, leaders and foreign ministers of 27 EU states held a meeting in Brussels on January 23 to approve the embargo on Iranian oil supply. The new sanctions to be imposed since July 1 expect all EU member-states to fully suspend import of oil from Tehran.

Demands with regards to Tehran’s nuke program are still in force. The “3+3” format is still there, seeking a diplomatic settlement of the global concerns over Iran, as well as Iran’s recognition of UN Security Council resolution and cooperation with IAEA. The “3+3” format confirmed the balanced proposal offered in Baghdad with regard to suspension of uranium enrichment to 20% purity and shutting down the nuclear plant.

While negotiations were under way in Moscow, the Iranian atomic issues also appeared on the G20 summit agenda in Los Cabos, Mexico. This issue was in the focus of the meeting between the presidents of Russia and U.S.

Moscow and Washington called for step-by-step settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue insisting that Tehran must fully comply with its obligations under the relevant UN Security Council and IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“Our common goal remains a comprehensive negotiated settlement based on the principles of a step-by-step approach and reciprocity, and we look forward to constructive engagement with Iran through the P5+1 process, including the latest round of talks taking place in Moscow on June 18-19,” the joint statement of Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama said.

Meanwhile, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on June 18 that Iran will agree to stop enrichment of uranium to 20% purity in exchange for guaranteed supply of nuclear fuel. In other words, none of the negotiating parties shut the doors, despite increasing Israeli discontent. Well, this is Israel’s problem, especially in view of the recent statement of Dan Meridor, Israel's minister of intelligence and atomic energy and deputy prime minister. In an interview to Al-Jazeera channel Merridor confessed that the notorious statement on “wiping Israel off the map” allegedly voiced by the Iranian leader is in fact misquoted. “He never said anything of the kind,” Merridor said.

So, hardly anything can be added to Merridor’s statement.

Karine Ter-Sahakian