Vienna deal on the horizon

Vienna has some good news to offer as far as nuclear talks are concerned.

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Published: Wed 22 Oct 2014, 9:12 PM

Last updated: Fri 3 Apr 2015, 9:44 PM

The body language and off-the-cuff remarks a the talks between Iran and the West provide credence to the belief that conventional rivals, the United States and Iran, are not far away from signing a permanent deal on the contested nuclear issue. The credit for this advancement in talks should inevitably go to the European states, especially its outgoing foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton who ensured that the dialogue remains result-oriented and is not as an exercise in vain.

Over the weekend, Vienna reportedly saw some twists and turns, as US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Javed Zarif held laborious six-hour long parleys and departed with the pledge to realise the deadline of November 24, by which they have to ink a permanent accord. This proactive phase of diplomacy without revealing much to the media is likely to triumph. The reason is that Washington and Tehran inevitably are in the league of allies since the rise of the ISIS in the Middle East, and they can’t afford to rupture the confidence that they have cultivated by working together against Al Qaeda and Taleban in Afghanistan. This aspect will figure strongly as they close in for a deal on uranium enrichment. That is why Zarif said that instead of focusing on problems, they discussed solutions. Kerry, who said that progress has been made, also seconded such an impression.

The onus is on Washington to ensure that this opportunity of making inroads into Iran is not lost. At the same time, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia should not let the ball slip out of their hands, and try their best to remain honest brokers and guarantors. Neutralising Iran after clinching a deal on enrichment will be a historic moment.


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