Top diplomats from the U.S., U.K. andFranceheaded to Geneva in the effort to secure a first-step accord ending a decade-long standoff with Iran over the Islamic Republics nuclear activities.In light of progress being made, U.S. Secretary of StateJohn Kerrydecided to travel to the Swiss city to join his counterparts should agreement be reached, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said yesterday in a Twitter Inc. posting. In an earlier statement, Psaki said only that Kerry was going to Geneva with the goal of continuing to help narrow the differences and move closer to an agreement.
U.K. Foreign SecretaryWilliam Haguesaid in a Twitter posting that hell also join his peers at the talks today, and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also will be coming, according to the Foreign Ministry. Russian Foreign MinisterSergei Lavrovarrived yesterday, as negotiators prepared to extend the talks into an unscheduled session today.
The show of diplomatic power doesnt necessarily mean an agreement has been clinched by negotiators, who have been in Geneva haggling over language and details. Kerry and the other foreign ministers assembled there on short notice two weeks ago, only to fall short of reaching an agreement on Iran.
Falling Short
Negotiators are seeking an initial accord that would freeze Irans nuclear activities in exchange for limited sanctions relief. The offer as discussed earlier would ease curbs on trade in gold, petrochemicals, cars and aircraft parts and allow access to some frozen assets. That would permit six months to seek a comprehensive deal intended to reassure other countries that Irans nuclear work is solely for peaceful purposes.
Among differences being tackled in the current round is the extent to which a right for Iran to enrich uranium is recognized. TheUnited Nations Security Councilhas ordered such work to be stopped. A Western diplomat who spoke on condition of not being identified said yesterday that the U.S. has taken a tough position over Irans heavy-water reactor, which is under construction, and that there was no agreement on how to word a reference to enrichment.
Talks broke after midnight in Geneva, and negotiators planned to resume discussions in the morning, according to a U.S. official who described the schedule on condition of anonymity. Its not clear how long the talks may continue. Iranian diplomats had said that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is due back in Tehran today for a regional economic conference.
Maintaining Momentum
Adding to pressure for a deal this weekend is concern that opponents of the plan in the U.S.,Israeland Iran will seek to undermine an accord if one isnt reached now. The current round of talks is the third in six weeks.
They understand that if no agreement is reached this time, it will be hard to maintain momentum, Ali Vaez, an Iran analyst at theInternational Crisis Group, said in an interview in Geneva. It will be difficult recreating the favorable circumstances that exist for an accord if they cannot agree by the end of the year.
Zarif and European Union foreign policy chiefCatherine Ashton, whos representing six world powers at the talks, met three times yesterday in their third day of consultations. The countries negotiating with Iran are the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the U.S., the U.K., France,RussiaandChina-- plusGermany.
Considerable Progress
We are negotiating our differences and we have made considerable progress, Zarif said in a statement. The current round of negotiations has been positive and may be extended, Majid Takh-Ravanchi, another Iranian envoy, said in an interview.
Brent crudegained for a third day yesterday as the outcome in Geneva remained in doubt. Crude for January settlement added 0.9 percent to $111.05 a barrel.
Israel and the U.S. have said they dont rule out a military strike onIranto prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The Persian Gulf nation of 80 million people, which has the worlds fourth-largest proven oil reserves, says its not seeking a nuclear bomb and wants tradesanctionslifted.
One sticking point is how to define the parameters for Irans uranium enrichment, the process that yields fissile material that can be used to generate nuclear power or weapons.
Two Western diplomats from different countries said the issue could be addressed without explicitly granting Iran enrichment rights.
Formal Recognition
Zarif offered a compromise last week by saying theres no necessity for formal recognition because the right is self-evident in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Article 4 says countries have an inalienable right to nuclear technology. The Obama administration says the treaty gives no explicit right to enrichment.
Language in the accord doesnt need to say whether the powers are condoning enrichment or not because its only a first step, said Vaez.
Failure to strike an accord would increase the prospects that U.S. legislators will seek to impose additional sanctions.
Senate Majority LeaderHarry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said inWashingtonon Nov. 21 that, while he supports the negotiations in Geneva, the Senate will be prepared to push for a bill that would broaden the scope of sanctions when lawmakers return in December from a Thanksgiving holiday break.
A group of 14 senators from both U.S. parties issued a statement pledging to pass bipartisan Iran sanctions legislation as soon as possible.
The U.S. public backs an interim agreement along the lines being considered in Geneva, with 56 percent in favor to 39 percent against, according to a poll carried out by ORC International for CNN television and published yesterday.
Opponents of the proposed accord include Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu, who has said it would ease sanctions too much.
By Bloomberg
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