Geneva ��Abbas Aragchi, Iran�s Deputy Foreign Minister who is currently leading talks here between Iran and world powers known as the P5+1, told IPS News in an interview this morning at his hotel that Iran is willing to implement the Additional Protocol in the final stage of a mutually agreed upon nuclear deal. �The Additional Protocol is a part of the endgame,� Araghchi told IPS. �It�s on the table, but not for the time being, it�s a part of the final step,� he said.
According to the Arms Control Center, the Additional Protocol �is�a legal document granting the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] complementary inspection authority to that provided in underlying safeguards agreements.� The�voluntary but advanced nuclear safeguards standard, the implementation of which includes a legal document, was introduced in the mid-1990s and implemented earlier by Iran in 2003. �The Additional Protocol requires States to provide an expanded declaration of their nuclear activities and grants the Agency broader rights of access to sites in the country,� according to the IAEA�s website.

 

Asked whether he was expecting any breakthroughs today after an�initial positive first day�of the two-day talks scheduled here in Geneva, Araghchi said, �Any break through depends on the other side.�

He also�expressed much of the same �cautious optimism� that an EU official noted here yesterday after Iran presented its new proposal to the P5+1, the details of which remain under wraps.

�For the first time, very detailed technical discussions continued this afternoon,� said Michael Mann, the Spokesperson for EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, yesterday.�A senior State Department official had offered the same statement.

�We made a very good, logical and balanced proposal yesterday,� said Araghchi, referring to the PowerPoint presentation that was presented by the official head of Iran�s nuclear negotiating team, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is Iran�s Foreign Minister. We are looking forward this morning to hearing from [the P5+1] on their counter proposal, what their reaction is today and their evaluation of our proposal,� he said.

�It�s to soon to talk about whether we have made any progress but maybe this afternoon when we�ve heard from them we can come to a conclusion if everything is going well,� he added.

�I have a good feeling about it but I cannot judge now,� Araghchi told IPS. He then repeated Iran�s earlier call for identifying and establishing an �end game� for a nuclear deal.

�We believe to make an agreement now, we need to come to an agreement on the common objective, the end game, the final step and the first step,� Aragchi said.

�It�s not useful to decide only on the first step and take that without having a clear picture of the future and the destination,� he said.

�So it�s very important to set the common objective that both sides can agree on,� said Araghchi.

Araghchi also told IPS News that Iran is expecting to return with the P5+1 to Geneva, but did not confirm whether the next round of talks would occur at the ministerial level.

�There is a common understanding that we have to meet again soon,� he said. �The level is not decided yet.�

By Lobe Log

 

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