As talks between representatives from the P5+1 group of nations and Iran on Tehran’s nuclear programme resume Wednesday in Geneva, for the first time in ten years a British Prime Minister phoned Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
According to 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister David Cameron and Rouhani discussed the upcoming negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme, the conflict in Syria and the recent improvements in bilateral ties between London and Tehran.
They "agreed to continue efforts to improve the relationship on a step by step and reciprocal basis" following the appointment of non-resident charge d'affaires to each others countries last week, Cameron’s office said in a statement.
The appointment of the envoys was a key step towards improving ties severed after Iranian protesters ransacked the British embassy in 2011.
"On Iran's nuclear programme, both leaders agreed that significant progress had been made in the recent Geneva negotiations and that it was important to seize the opportunity presented by the further round of talks which get underway tomorrow," the statement said.
Cameron "underlined the necessity of Iran comprehensively addressing the concerns of the international community about their nuclear programme, including the need for greater transparency", it said.
Three days of high-level talks between the so-called P5+1 (the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council- US, Russia, China, UK, France- plus earlier this month in Geneva failed to achieve a breakthrough.
But this time, reports said negotiators may reach an interim agreement during the three days of talks. Sources said a potential first-step deal may include some of the following elements: Iran would agree to limit its enrichment of uranium, to convert some of its stockpile of medium enriched uranium, to limit the types of centrifuges it uses for enrichment, and to give greater access to international inspectors.
And in exchange for taking some or all of the above steps, the world powers say they are prepared to ease some sanctions on Iran by allowing the country access to around $10bn in frozen assets.
At the last talks, negotiators appeared to get stuck on two particular issues : France called for greater restrictions on a heavy water reactor at Arak which, when finished, would be able to produce plutonium, and Iran reportedly insisted on a recognition of what it believes is its right to enrich uranium.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been increasingly vocal in his displeasure with the conditions for an interim deal with Iran.
Speaking to CNN earlier this week, Netanyahu, who was due to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, said “an exceedingly bad deal” was on the table in the talks with Iran.
He said easing sanctions would send “companies and countries scrambling” to invest there, while leaving Tehran’s nuclear weapons capability in place. ‘’They’re keeping their infrastructure to make nuclear bombs,’’ Netanyah said.
“I think a lot is being offered by the P5 + 1 for Iran,” he said. “It’s getting just an enormous deal, from their point of view, and it’s giving practically nothing in return. They’re keeping their infrastructure to make nuclear bombs.”
At a press conference with visiting French President Francois Hollande on Sunday, Netanyahu stated: ‘’’Just look how eager the Iranians are, how eager they are to return to Geneva and sign the deal. Now they said that they will not demand that the agreement include a specific reference to their so-called right to enrich, their already backing off of that, predictably. They know, everyone knows, that the agreement enables them to continue enrichment, so they say, we already have the right to enrich in practice.’’
He added: ‘’It’s clear that this agreement is good only for Iran and that it’s really bad for the rest of the world. Iran’s dream deal is the world’s nightmare. So today. I believe the choice is not between a bad deal and war. On the contrary. Every day that passes, Iran is placed under greater economic pressure. With patience, with determination, it’s possible to get a good deal. That means keeping the pressure and ratcheting up the pressure. Getting a deal that dismantles Iran’s military nuclear capacity, that gets them to dismantle their centrifuges and dismantle their plutonium heavy water reactor."
US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is in favour of such an interim deal, said Prime Minister Netanyahu has "every right" to voice his opposition but added that his fear that a deal would leave Israel vulnerable is ‘’unfounded.’’
‘’I have great respect for [Netanyahu's] concerns about his country," Kerry told reporters at a State Department press conference with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. "The Prime Minister should express his concerns and he has every right in the world to publicly state his position and defend what he believes is his interest."
"Nothing that we are doing here, in my judgment, will put Israel at any additional risk," Kerry said. "In fact, let me make this clear, we believe it reduces risk."
Netanyahu announced that Kerry would be visiting Israel on Friday, but Kerry said his schedule would not allow for it. The US Secretary of State said he would probably make the trip after the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.