Iran, P5+1 to discuss Arak heavy water
By Sara Rajabova
Negotiators from Iran and P5+1 will focus on the Arak heavy water reactor during the negotiations on March 19.
Iranian deputy foreign minister and top nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi said the current round of nuclear talks with P5+1 was "useful, but it's too early to say they were constructive", Iranian media reported.
After the talks on March 18, Araqchi described the atmosphere of negotiations as "serious and explicit".
He underlined that the current round of talks is mainly focused on exchanging views, and the two sides are seeking a common ground, after which they will work on a joint text.
Araqchi went on to say that three main topics were discussed during the meetings, with the fourth topic remaining for talks on March 19.
The two sides talked about enrichment, peaceful nuclear cooperation, and removal of sanctions on March 18, while the March 19 talks will focus on the Arak heavy water reactor, he added.
Araqchi stressed that the closure of Arak heavy water reactor is out of the question. "What we have agreed in the Joint Plan of Action is to resolve the concerns regarding the heavy water reactor. So, we are going to negotiate tomorrow to come to an understanding on how we can address these concerns," Press TV quoted Araqchi as saying.
Under an agreement reached between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in November 2013, the IAEA inspectors visited the Arak heavy water production plant on December 8, 2013.
The Arak reactor, which uses natural uranium to produce radio medicines, is planned to gradually replace the Tehran Research Reactor which produces medical radioisotopes for cancer patients.
Saying that uranium enrichment is Tehran's red line, Araqchi added that Tehran and the P5+1 can discuss the scope and the level of the process.
"The subject for negotiations is the scope and level of enrichment and the Joint Plan of Action says this scope should be consistent with Iran's practical needs," he pointed out, referring to the Geneva deal.
The interim deal reached in Geneva will end on July 20.
Araqchi said Iran and the P5+1 are determined to reach a comprehensive solution before the deadline.
"There is a good intention to do the job before the 20th of July. There are obstacles in the way in terms of the difficulty of the subjects on the table. Each and every item on our agenda is a very difficult one, and it would be very difficult to reach a compromise or conclusion," Araqchi added.
Araqchi also said after the talks that the next round of negotiations was expected to be held in Vienna on April 7-9.
Iran and the P5+1 (Russia, China, France, Britain, the U.S., and Germany) have resumed their nuclear discussions in Vienna in an effort to work out a permanent agreement aimed at fully resolving the decade-old dispute over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.
The new round of the negotiations follows earlier discussions in Vienna which ended on February 20.
Under an interim nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 which took effect on Jan 20, the six major powers agreed to give Iran access to $4.2 billion in revenues blocked overseas if the country fulfills the deal's terms which offer sanctions relief in exchange for steps on curbing the Iranian nuclear program.