Tehran: Iran’s chief negotiator warned on Thursday of a lingering “lack of trust” at nuclear talks in Geneva with world powers and insisted they accept its right to enrich uranium.
“The main obstacle is the lack of trust because of what happened at the last round,” said Abbas Araghchi, referring to talks in early November when major powers toughened the terms of a draft accord.
“As long as trust is not restored, we cannot continue constructive negotiations,” Araghchi told state television.
“There are major differences. There is a chance of a deal by tomorrow (Friday) but it’s a difficult task,” the negotiator said, calling for his counterparts to be “flexible” and to show goodwill.
Araghchi stressed that Iran would not sign up to a deal on its controversial nuclear programme unless the world powers accept its right to enrich uranium.
“No deal that does not include the right to uranium enrichment from start to finish will be accepted,” he said on his Twitter account, quoted by official news agency IRNA.
“The principle of enrichment is not negotiable but we can discuss volumes, levels and locations,” he said.
Iran and the so-called P5+1, made up of the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany, are set on Thursday to begin talks in Geneva on a landmark deal.
