Iran’s top nuclear negotiator on technical issues has accused the US of backing away from agreements in the talks seeking a comprehensive agreement by June.

The comments on Sunday by Ali Akbar Salehi (pictured), the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, point to the disputes that remain as Tehran and the 5+1 Powers (US, Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia) draft the text for a final deal. The talks adjourned in New York last Thursday after 200 hours of discussions among the political and technical teams, and they resume in Vienna on Tuesday.

Salehi said at a ceremony in Tehran, “[The Americans] are low-balling with regard to certain issues that we had agreed on.”

However, while challenging the US, he declared that the talks were progressing well and professed Tehran’s goodwill: “We welcome interaction as Iran’s logic is based interaction with the world. We are not after confrontation.”

He added that Tehran wants an agreement “but not at any price”.



Release of Student Activist Tavakoli from Prison is Confirmed
The release of prominent student activist Majid Tavakoli from prison, after more than five years behind bars, has been confirmed.

Tavakoli was given his first prison furlough in April, months before he was scheduled to complete a sentence imposed over his speeches after the disputed 2009 Presidential election.

The activist (7th from right) with friends:

By EA WorldView