Iran will exchange nuclear monitoring for lifted sanctions, says its foreign minister

"Iran is ready to form a real and lasting agreement that includes strict monitoring and limits on its domestic uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, its foreign minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, has said. But, writing for the Guardian, he urges the European nations to change course and abandon their plan to snapback a wide array of UN sanctions at the end of the month."

"He warns: If this short opportunity to change course is missed, it will have consequences that could be unprecedentedly destructive for the region and beyond. Iran is still hoping Europeans can be persuaded to defer snapping back sanctions at the UN security council, arguing that Europe will not benefit from such a move since it will only leave the US in the driving seat on negotiating any new nuclear deal, and Europe isolated."

"Araghchi said he had made progress in recent talks with the UN weapons inspectors on their terms for their return to Iran's bombed nuclear sites, one of the preconditions set by Europe before it would defer the snapback. But the conservative-dominated Iranian parliament is still discussing a bill that would require Iran to leave the nuclear non-proliferation treaty if UN sanctions were restored, a move that would free Iran from all requirements to allow UN weapons inspectors into Iran"

Iran is ready to form a lasting agreement that includes strict monitoring and limits on domestic uranium enrichment in exchange for lifting sanctions. European plans to snap back a wide array of UN sanctions at month-end risk missing a short opportunity and could produce unprecedentedly destructive regional consequences. Iran seeks European deferral of the UN snapback, arguing snapback would leave the US driving any new nuclear negotiations and isolate Europe. Conflicting domestic signals include reported progress with UN weapons inspectors on return terms to bombed nuclear sites, while the conservative-dominated parliament debates legislation that could require leaving the NPT if sanctions are restored.

Read at www.theguardian.com