US Official: ‘I Am Certain We Will Reach an Agreement with Iran’*

The most important point coming out of the latest round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 is as follows: Although no progress was made during the talks, nor was the drafting of the final written agreement begun, officials on both sides are talking definitively about the positive atmosphere and favorable conditions for reaching an agreement. The statements of one high-ranking American official, which were just released, can also be interpreted in this context.

According to reports from Tabnak, an American official told The Washington Post that although there remained significant gaps between Iran and the P5+1 nations regarding Iran’s nuclear program, “the talks are moving in a serious direction,” and the drafting process for the comprehensive agreement will begin soon.

This American official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, brought forward credible documents — which is highly unusual for American officials — and said, “I have complete confidence that we can complete the agreement drafting process by the July 20 deadline.” Of course, continuing on, the official repeated the claims of other American officials [by saying] it was Iran that would have to make tough decisions in this regard, some of which would be “very difficult.”

According to The Washington Post, the official made these statements during the course of a conference, which was held in order for the U.S. to express its views on the nuclear negotiations process with Iran: “We have been completely forthright and truthful with one another; as such, I don’t think there is any doubt as to the positions of both sides. What we’re focusing on is what we discuss inside (the negotiation) room, not what other people are saying on the outside.”

The official added, “We know where the points of agreement and shared opinion are. We know where the gaps are that need to be filled. But I will say in any case that this is a Rubik’s Cube, and every area in which we make some gains creates an air of bargaining surrounding other issues.”

The American official showed restraint in response to journalists’ questions about the details of topics negotiated in the last round of talks and simply said: “So long as not everything is agreed upon, nothing is agreed upon. I must add that so long as not everyone has come to an agreement on a matter, no agreement regarding that matter will be reached.”

We should point out that this U.S. official’s comments were published just a few hours after several Zionist sources claimed that the U.S. had resigned itself to failure regarding a nuclear agreement with Iran within the appointed six-month time frame and hoped to extend the period for another six months. Considering these developments, and as the statements of this senior U.S. official show, these reports are baseless, and the U.S. is trying to finalize an agreement with Iran within the previously outlined time period (before the July 20 deadline).

The next round of talks between Iran and the P5+1 will take place in late June in Vienna, where both sides will try to put aside differences on various topics and enter into serious talks.

It is said that in the short time remaining before the next round, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian foreign minister, and Catherine Ashton, high representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will have a private meeting.

*Editor’s Note: The statements by the senior U.S. official cited in this article seem to correspond with ideas presented in this press conference. However, The Washington Post does not seem to have participated, as stated in this article. All quotations in this translation could not be verified.