BICOM

Representatives of the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) and Iran will resume talks today on implementing an interim deal over nuclear development agreed in Geneva in November. However, reports indicate that the two sides have hit a snag over Iranian centrifuge development.

Under the terms of the interim agreement, Iran is expected to pause aspects of its nuclear programme during the coming six months in return for a relaxation of some sanctions. Talks on implementing the deal took place last month, but stalled after Tehran took umbrage at a US decision to blacklist a number of Iranian companies for breaching existing sanctions.

Those attending today’s talks in Geneva include Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Helga Schmid, deputy to European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who oversees contacts between the P5+1 and Iran and US Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman.  AFP reports that Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Zarif commented, “The nuclear talks are continuing with seriousness and a strong political will.”

However, according to Reuters, the two sides have reached an impasse over whether Iran is permitted to carry out research and development of new advanced centrifuges used to purify uranium, which can be used for weapons. Quoting anonymous diplomatic sources, Reuters says Iran informed the P5+1 at talks last month of plans to develop centrifuges more advanced than the second-generation IR-2m models and no agreement was reached. Iran claims that under the terms of the interim deal it can continue research and development, but the P5+1 argues that Tehran is prohibited from installing new centrifuges. Permitting faster and more efficient Iranian enrichment would contradict the goals of the interim agreement.

It is also a prospect likely to worry Israeli leaders who expressed serious doubts over the interim deal. Reuters quotes an anonymous Israeli official saying “It was clear from the outset that the Iranians would play games… They did it in the past, and now they’re up to their old tricks again.”