Iran, P5+1 Diplomacy Just Getting Started
The good news about the talks between Iran and the P5+1 in Kazakhstan may be the shared interest in turning the talks from events into a diplomatic process to allow time to bridge the gulf between positions, writes Mohammad Ali Shabani.
With the conclusion of the nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 in Kazakhstan, there is confusion about what to expect next. To move past this haze, it’s necessary to soberly assess the various aspects of the talks.
There are three main reasons to be upbeat about the rendezvous in Kazakhstan.
First, the world powers finally offered tangible sanctions relief in exchange for measures targeting 19.75%-enrichment on Iranian soil. While the exact details are unclear, the P5+1 reportedly put restrictions on Iranian gold imports and petrochemical exports on the table. There are some disputed reports of an offer to slightly lift some of the myriad Western banking sanctions.
Second, for the first time, the P5+1 showed an understanding of the importance of saving face for Iran. This was displayed, as will be discussed below, in the way the world powers’ demands were presented.
