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Homeworld politicsNuclear talks are progressing, Iran and U.S. say, despite Tehran’s enrichment threats

Nuclear talks are progressing, Iran and U.S. say, despite Tehran’s enrichment threats

  • "We are on the right track and some progress has been made, but this does not mean that the talks in Vienna have reached the final stage," an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
  • Negotiations are starting to pick up pace, even as Iran announces further violations of the deal — most significantly its pledge last week to begin enriching uranium to 60% purity.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reviews Iran's new nuclear achievements during Iran's National Nuclear Energy Day in Tehran, Iran April 10, 2021.Iranian Presidency Office | WANA | via Reuters

Talks on the Iranian nuclear deal in Vienna hit more positive notes on Monday, officials said, as Tehran and Washington continue indirect negotiations in the hope of reviving the 2015 accord that lifted economic sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs to its nuclear program. 

"We are on the right track and some progress has been made, but this does not mean that the talks in Vienna have reached the final stage," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a news conference in Tehran.

Iran boosting uranium enrichment

U.S. officials say there has been no breakthrough, but have described the indirect discussions as "thorough" and "thoughtful." Reports say diplomats may even draft an interim deal that would give all sides more time to resolve some of the more complicated technical issues.

Negotiations are starting to pick up pace, even as Iran announces further violations of the deal — most significantly its pledge last week to begin enriching uranium to 60% purity, which would bring the fissile material closer to levels required for a bomb. Uranium enrichment needs to be at 90% in order to make a bomb — the limit under the 2015 deal was 3.67%.

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