Rouhani lashes out at hard-line media over criticism of US nuclear talks
The US and Iran are unlikely to reach an agreement at the Vienna nuclear talks before the June 18 Iranian presidential elections.
Iranian and American negotiators continue to struggle to resolve differences over the US reentry into the 2015 nuclear deal.
On Saturday, negotiators will begin their sixth round of talks in Vienna. According to Iranian media sources, it is unlikely that all the technical and legal aspects of the talks will be resolved in this latest round. Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters there are no new issues but that the key problems of US reentry and Iran returning to full compliance remain.
Given that a resolution is unlikely, it appears likely that Iran’s presidential election on June 18 will take place without a nuclear deal in place. While voter apathy is particularly high in this election, a nuclear deal that promises to lift crippling sanctions could change the mood in the country.
President Hassan Rouhani, whose administration is currently involved in the negotiations, has grown tired of the economic criticism of his administration during the debates. In his latest Cabinet meeting, he criticized the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) for endless questions and coverage of the dire economic situation in Iran without mentioning the current US sanctions on the country that make it difficult for the country to sell its oil and conduct banking transactions.
