BICOM

European Union representatives are set to meet Iranian officials today, to discuss the nascent nuclear deal between Tehran and the P5+1 powers (US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany). Meanwhile, US President Obama will hope to placate concerns over the deal at a summit for Gulf state and Saudi Arabian officials.

Iran and the P5+1 agreed a framework to a comprehensive nuclear deal last month, paving the way for negotiations to begin towards a long-term accord, which must be agreed by June. However, both sides have since indicated differing understandings of the nascent deal, including fundamental issues such as Iran’s use of advanced centrifuges and the pace of sanctions relief.

European Union (EU) Political Director Helga Schmid and Iranian Deputy negotiators Abbas Araghchi and Madjid Takht Ravanchi will today meet in Vienna in order to continue to draft text on a long-term deal. On Friday, they will be joined by other representatives of the P5+1. Technical experts from both sides have already been negotiating over annexes to the main text, which will contain much of the detail of any potential deal.

At the same time, US President Barack Obama is preparing to host representatives from Gulf states and Saudi Arabia at a summit at Camp David beginning tomorrow. Although the summit is meant to discuss a range of regional issues, it is likely designed to reassure the participants of US support and Washington’s determination not to allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. Several Gulf states have publicly voiced their concern over the emerging nuclear deal with Iran, while Saudi Arabia is engaged in a military conflict with the Iranian-affiliated Houthi rebels in Yemen, fearing Tehran’s ambitions of regional hegemony.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman yesterday cancelled his personal attendance at Camp David, as did the President of the United Arab Emirates, sending more junior representatives instead. However, both Saudi and American officials said that there was no disagreement between the two countries.