Oman Optimistic on Iran Nuclear Talks Progress

Wed Nov 12, 2014 09:34:26

Oman's Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, on Tuesday gave few details on any progress made in Iran's nuclear talks but said an agreement was still within reach.

Abdullah said he was "optimistic" the talks would be eventually successful.

"I think the agreement is within the reach. During the course of all these negotiations, there are so many issues of differences have been addressed and agreed. Therefore I am optimistic. But saying optimistic does not mean... there is still some differences exist, but everyone in his mind what's at stake is much more than differ on smaller things”, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Oman's Foreign Affairs Minister said in a news presser.

Abdullah also stressed Oman's commitment to helping the US and Iran reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement by November 24, despite their differences.

The Omani capital Muscat began hosting three days of crucial negotiations over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program on Sunday.

The Oman talks are widely seen as a sort of predictor for the outcome November 24, when the negotiations expire.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, US Secretary of State John Kerry and European Union envoy Catherine Ashton wrapped up two days of discussions in the Omani capital. On Tuesday, top officials from Iran and the P5+1 group wrapped up the talks, which were led by Zarif and Ashton.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday downgraded impacts of sanctions on resolve of the Iranian nation to protect their right to peaceful nuclear technology.

In a meeting in Muscat with Omani Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud, Zarif said Iran is seriously seeking to help find a solution to the unwarranted nuclear crisis and has entered the talks with good faith, IRNA reported.

The Omani deputy prime minister, for his part, expressed hope that nuclear talks between Iran and the Western governments underway in Oman would yield good results.

Fahd bin Mahmoud said a possible nuclear deal with Iran would benefit everyone.

During the meeting, the two sides also underlined the need for enhanced relations between Tehran and Muscat.

Yesterday Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi described 2 days of trilateral talks with US and EU as very tough and continuation of talks on disputed issues, namely enrichment and ways for lifting of sanctions.

“During the two days of negotiations altogether the three sides held 12 hours of talks, in addition to side negotiations at deputies’ level, including myself and Mr. Ravanchi with the US and EU deputy foreign ministers, as well as the technicians’ talks and the sessions that each side had among them, and all in all, it was two days of very hard work,” he said.

Last November, Iran and the P5+1 group -- France, Britain, the US, Russia and China, plus Germany -- clinched an interim nuclear accord that took effect on January 20 and expired six months later. However, they agreed to extend their talks until November 24 as they remained divided on a number of key issues.

The Muscat meetings discussed the outstanding issues that must be resolved before the conclusion of a final deal on Iran’s nuclear energy program.

On the top of the agenda were the volume of Iran’s uranium enrichment and the timetable for the removal of sanctions. The next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the world powers is set to be held in the Austrian capital Vienna on November 18-24.

Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, has also said he is “reasonably optimistic” that Iran and the P5+1 can reach a comprehensive nuclear deal before the deadline.

string(834) "[{"id":"1647219","sort":"3279575","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/11/08/alalam_635510688961590241_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Araghchi: Failure of Talks Dangerous for All"} ,{"id":"1647444","sort":"3279576","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/11/09/alalam_635511469676224626_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Iran, U.S., EU Hold Nuclear Talks in Oman"} ,{"id":"1647545","sort":"3279577","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/11/09/alalam_635511665975568842_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Trilateral nuclear talks in Oman Seen Going to 2nd Day"} ,{"id":"1647624","sort":"3279578","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/11/10/alalam_635512100678528997_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"How Obama Benefit from Iran?"} ,{"id":"1647707","sort":"3279579","contenttypeid":"21","pic":"/2014/11/10/alalam_635512257632813185_25f_4x3.jpg","title":"Obama Faces Last Chance on Iran Nuke Deal"} ]"