The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, confirmed that the nuclear negotiations that began in early April in Vienna to revive the Iranian nuclear agreement are difficult. In an interview with Al Arabiya/Al Hadath on Monday, he expressed hope that the change in leadership in Iran, with the election of the hardliner Ebrahim Raisi as president after Hassan Rouhani, would not hinder efforts to reach an agreement. He stated, "We hope that the election results will not affect the course of discussions in Vienna."
Simultaneously, the chief Iranian negotiator, Abbas Araghchi, announced today that the difficult part of the negotiations is still ongoing, but he expressed hope that the talks would continue and that an agreement could be reached during the current government’s term (i.e., before early August). He also confirmed, according to the Fars news agency, that the elected president Ebrahim Raisi is very realistic and rational, adding that his country's position would not change even after the power transition.
Upcoming Round... Without a Specific Date
These new statements come after the European negotiator Enrique Mora, who chairs the nuclear talks, announced yesterday that the participants are closer to reaching an agreement, though he clarified that they have not achieved it yet. After announcing the end of the sixth round of negotiations, he told reporters from the Austrian capital that he expects "delegations to return from capitals with clearer instructions and ideas on how to finalize the agreement in the next round." However, he did not specify the date for the resumption of the next round, noting that the main issue remains finding a solution "in this delicate balance" between lifting US sanctions on Iran and scaling back Tehran's escalating nuclear activities. He pointed out that the next round will provide "a clearer idea" about the "new political environment," referring to the election of Ebrahim Raisi, although he noted that discussions continued previously with elections taking place.
