Iran nuclear talks on ‘pause’ in Vienna after Russian demand
LA TimesNegotiations aimed at restoring Iran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers went on what its European hosts described as “a pause” on Friday, after Russia demanded relief from sanctions targeting Moscow over its war on Ukraine. Last week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he wanted “guarantees at least at the level of the secretary of state” that the U.S. sanctions would not affect Moscow’s relationship with Tehran. However, Russian Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov, speaking to journalists outside of the Vienna hotel where the talks took place, insisted: “I’m not aware of any impasse.” “Contacts will continue,” he said. On Thursday, State Department spokesperson Ned Price had said America was “close to a possible deal — it’s really down to a very small number of outstanding issues.” But he also warned America had “no intention of offering Russia anything new or specific as it relates to the sanctions.” However, British negotiator Stephanie Al-Qaq struck a more somber note, warning Friday on Twitter that the “external factors must be resolved in next few days or agreement likely to unravel.” Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran put advanced centrifuges into storage under the watch of the International Atomic Energy Agency, while keeping its enrichment at 3.67% purity and its stockpile at 300 kilograms of uranium.