MUSCAT — Oman’s Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah said yesterday that he is optimistic about the trilateral talks on Iran. He expressed hope that Muscat talks will be followed by regional and international stability and the differences will turn into friendship which will lead to a major change between the America and Iran relations. He said there are still some difficulties but expressed confidence that all the parties are keen to end it successfully at the end of this month.
Responding to a question about his opinion of the talks, he said: “We feel optimistic but this does not mean there is no differences. The situation is serious but what has been agreed is more than the differences.”
In a question about whether US Secretary of State will be back in Muscat to continue the talks, Alawi said, “John Kerry told me if required he would be happy to come back. The requirement is not for us to say. It is for the political directors. Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif who is leaving tomorrow morning has all expressed his keenness to return anytime a discussion is required and that has been the case with EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. I have also received phone calls from my colleagues and have been supportive of holding these negotiations in Oman.”
Meanwhile Sergei Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, stated that all signals indicate the negotiations success but it is going slowly and expected to sign agreement in Vienna before November 24. “It is really a unique and never tried and the very fact the US Secretary of State John Kerry was personally involved and this has had so many political leaders of the world talking about this issue. These days at Apec in Beijing it is a topic of discussion. The Russian foreign minister and others are involved too. This is not a guarantee but it enhances all the chances for our positive outcome. We are not quite out there but we are hopeful.”
Ryabkov said some of the obstacles are inability for the parties to build bridges over still deep gaps on issues such as enrichment, sanctions and Araq. Araq is the heavy-water reactor in Iran. Near the city of Arak is Iran’s heavy water production plant and a heavy water reactor, which remains under construction.
From Iran’s perspective the country has agreed to change the fuel by going down to 3.5 enrichment level. The enrichment level is still under discussions to which the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said, “We are very ready to progress with our Iranian friends in this area. As we approach November 24th, we hopefully achieve an agreement there. We will be right on time to consider what is possible there. In fact text of these documents are probably just being publicised in Moscow. We are reasonably optimistic but not to an extend that we are sure that agreement will be reached here.”
One thing Iran would like to achieve, according to Iranian analysts is production of own fuel, which at present it is buying from Russia. Meanwhile, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA has been concerned about the military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear programme even though the country has been complying with an agreement to curb the uranium enrichment. The size of Iran’s centrifuge inventory has been an area that has held up discussions.
Meanwhile the declaration of the Trilateral Meeting will come from the President of Negotiations, Alawi said.
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