Iran: Dismantling nuclear facilities is off the table

Haaretz

VIENNA – The first round of talks between Iran and the six world powers on a permanent nuclear agreement kicked off Tuesday afternoon at the UN headquarters in Vienna.

Michael Mann, spokesperson for European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said at a press briefing that all concerns on Iran's nuclear program will be addressed during the talks.

The meeting was attended by a broad plenum – the Iranian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, the delegations of the six world powers – the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany – as well as Ashton and her team.

The meeting lasted only 45 minutes. Afterward, the Iranian delegation began separate discussions with the various delegations. Another plenum is scheduled to take place later on Tuesday.

Mann said the objective of the morning meeting was to formulate a framework for how to proceed with talks in the coming months. Iran and the six powers have allocated six months for the talks, with an option of extending it for another six months. He stressed all the international community's concerns will be addressed in order to ensure Iran's nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes.

Mann also noted that Ashton, the Iranians and world representatives do not "expect a final agreement at the end of this round" but are interested in achieving progress. Mann said Ashton wants a "good deal," and is determined to continue pushing forward to reach one.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters in Vienna that the opening plenum got off to a "good start." He added that discussions in Vienna will focus solely on Iran's nuclear program, and that Iran won't agree to discuss other issues, such as its missiles program.

Araqchi added that "dismantling nuclear facilities or stopping it completely are not on the table" as far as Iran is concerned.

Israel is following talks in Vienna and is in constant contact with representatives of the delegations talking with Iran. Strategic Affairs and Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz, responsible for the Iran portfolio on behalf of the prime minister, warned this morning of continued uranium enrichment even after a permanent agreement is reached.

"If the final agreement includes centrifuges and uranium enrichment, it will lead to a nuclear armament race throughout the Middle East," Steinitz said at a summit in Jerusalem to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. "Sunni countries like Algeria, Egypt and Saudia Arabia will want to balance Iran's power." Steinitz emphasized that leaving Iran with centrifuges means it will remain a country on the verge of nuclear capability, even after a permanent agreement is reached, setting a precedent for other countries.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took advantage of a visit to an IDF field hospital in the Golan Heights that treats wounded Syrians on Tuesday morning to attack Iran for supporting the Assad regime.

Netanyahu said that on the day it is important for the world to see the pictures from this hospital that treats Syrians today, on the day Vienna talks open. "This is the place that divides Israel and Iran..Israel which saves victims from the massacre in Syria is the good side here. Iran that is helping the massacre is the bad side." Netanyahu added that "all the Syrian children wounded and killed from the weapons Iran gives Assad…Iran hasn't changed its aggressive behavior and vicious nature."

Netanyahu stressed that Iran continues to support the Assad regime while it massacres its citizens. "This is the real face of Iran and the world must not forget that."