The fourth round of negotiations between Iran and world powers aimed at bringing the United States back to JCPOA nuclear agreement continued in Vienna over the weekend. Multiple reports suggest ‘positive’ developments as negotiators achieved a better understanding of the difficulties that had prevailed in earlier rounds. These difficulties revolved around which sanctions are to be lifted and which measured are needed to be taken by Iran.
However, the negotiating process remains very difficult and complicated. Discussions have been ongoing on both bilateral and multilateral levels to address outstanding issues.
Last week, three committees were created to work on potential drafts of agreement. The three committees are working to determine which sanctions against Iran are to be lifted, to determine steps needed to be taken by Iran to return to compliance, and to determine the necessary procedural agreements needed to return to a nuclear agreement.
On Saturday (8 April), Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said during a meeting with Iranian Health Ministry officials that an "agreement to lift all basic sanctions" has been reached. There are, however, still no assurances from the United States on lifting the sanctions. Rouhani’s statements came as the White House said Washington was ready to lift sanctions but only after Iran fulfilled all its nuclear obligations in the framework the nuclear deal. Rouhani and the Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, both implied that the choice is for the American side to make.
The level of progress in Vienna remains unclear. Despite positive developments, success is not guaranteed. The European Co-ordinator in Vienna and the EU Deputy Secretary-General for External Action Enrique Mora said in a tweet that there is no deadline but time “is not on our side”.
The fourth and ongoing round of negotiations are expected to be the longest. Negotiators in Vienna are committed to a full return to a nuclear agreement.