France sees progress in nuclear talks with Iran, but time is running out
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Friday that there has been progress in Iran’s nuclear talks, but time is running out. On Monday this week, indirect talks between Iran and the United States resumed on saving the 2015 nuclear deal.
Western diplomats have hoped for a breakthrough by the end of January or early February, but sharp differences remain over the toughest outstanding issues. Iran rejects any deadline imposed by Western powers.
“I am still convinced that we can reach an agreement. But time is running out. Little progress has been made in the past days,” Le Drian told BFM television and RMC radio. “We have been moving in a positive direction in the past few days, but time is of the essence because if we do not reach an agreement quickly, there will be nothing to negotiate,” he added.
The eighth round of talks, the first under new Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, resumed on Monday after adding some new Iranian demands.
Western powers say progress is too slow and negotiators have only “weeks, not months” left before the 2015 deal becomes meaningless.