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| U.S. Signals Flexibility as Iran Nuclear Talks Resume | U.S. Signals Flexibility as Iran Nuclear Talks Resume |
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| GENEVA — Negotiators from Iran and six world powers convened on Thursday as American officials signaled that the United States is prepared to offer Iran limited relief from economic sanctions if Tehran agrees to halt its nuclear program and reverse part of it. | GENEVA — Negotiators from Iran and six world powers convened on Thursday as American officials signaled that the United States is prepared to offer Iran limited relief from economic sanctions if Tehran agrees to halt its nuclear program and reverse part of it. |
| Catherine Ashton, the foreign policy chief of the European Union, met Thursday morning with Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, to discuss the arrangements for the first day of talks. Mr. Zarif touted the possibility of a breakthrough in remarks to reporters, perhaps calculating that it might encourage Western concessions. | |
| “If everyone tries their best, we may have one,” he said. We expect serious negotiations. It’s possible,” he said. | “If everyone tries their best, we may have one,” he said. We expect serious negotiations. It’s possible,” he said. |
| A senior Obama administration was somewhat more cautious in comments on Wednesday night, but also suggested that an initial understanding might be within reach. | A senior Obama administration was somewhat more cautious in comments on Wednesday night, but also suggested that an initial understanding might be within reach. |
| “I do see the potential for the outlines of a first step,” the official said. “I do think it can be written on a piece of paper, probably more than one.” | “I do see the potential for the outlines of a first step,” the official said. “I do think it can be written on a piece of paper, probably more than one.” |
| The formal talks, which are to last two days, began at 11:20 a.m. with Mr. Zarif leading the Iranian delegation. | The formal talks, which are to last two days, began at 11:20 a.m. with Mr. Zarif leading the Iranian delegation. |
| The world powers involved in the talks with Iran are known as the P5-plus-1 countries, so called because they include the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China — plus Germany. The American delegation is being led by Wendy R. Sherman, the under secretary of state for political affairs. | The world powers involved in the talks with Iran are known as the P5-plus-1 countries, so called because they include the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China — plus Germany. The American delegation is being led by Wendy R. Sherman, the under secretary of state for political affairs. |
| Referring to the limited agreement the Obama administration is seeking, the administration official said that the suspension of Iran’s nuclear efforts, perhaps for six months, would give negotiators time to pursue a comprehensive and far more challenging agreement. | Referring to the limited agreement the Obama administration is seeking, the administration official said that the suspension of Iran’s nuclear efforts, perhaps for six months, would give negotiators time to pursue a comprehensive and far more challenging agreement. |
| “Put simply, what we’re looking for now is a first phase, a first step, an initial understanding that stops Iran’s nuclear program from moving forward for the first time in decades and that potentially rolls part of it back,” the official said. | “Put simply, what we’re looking for now is a first phase, a first step, an initial understanding that stops Iran’s nuclear program from moving forward for the first time in decades and that potentially rolls part of it back,” the official said. |
| The long-stymied talks with Iran were re-energized after Hassan Rouhani, the new Iranian president, took office in August and declared that he wanted to resolve longstanding concerns about the country’s nuclear program so that punishing economic sanctions could be lifted. | The long-stymied talks with Iran were re-energized after Hassan Rouhani, the new Iranian president, took office in August and declared that he wanted to resolve longstanding concerns about the country’s nuclear program so that punishing economic sanctions could be lifted. |
| But while the atmospherics in the talks have improved, administration officials are concerned that the window for negotiations may close if some way is not found to freeze Iran’s nuclear program. Some experts say it has already advanced to the point that it has the technological capability to make a bomb. | But while the atmospherics in the talks have improved, administration officials are concerned that the window for negotiations may close if some way is not found to freeze Iran’s nuclear program. Some experts say it has already advanced to the point that it has the technological capability to make a bomb. |
| Olli Heinonen, the former deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in an interview that Iran had the technical know-how and sufficient quantities of uranium enriched to 20 percent to produce a crude nuclear explosive in two or three months if it made the political decision to become a nuclear weapons state. It would take considerably longer for Iran to develop the means of delivering such an explosive by a ballistic missile, he added, but the nuclear threshold would have been crossed. | Olli Heinonen, the former deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in an interview that Iran had the technical know-how and sufficient quantities of uranium enriched to 20 percent to produce a crude nuclear explosive in two or three months if it made the political decision to become a nuclear weapons state. It would take considerably longer for Iran to develop the means of delivering such an explosive by a ballistic missile, he added, but the nuclear threshold would have been crossed. |
| At the same time, American lawmakers have reacted to advances in Iran’s program by considering the imposition of even tougher economic sanctions, which Obama administration officials fear might harm the climate for negotiations. | At the same time, American lawmakers have reacted to advances in Iran’s program by considering the imposition of even tougher economic sanctions, which Obama administration officials fear might harm the climate for negotiations. |
| “We’re looking for ways to put additional time on the clock,” said the administration official, who declined to be identified publicly under the administration’s diplomatic protocol for briefing reporters. | “We’re looking for ways to put additional time on the clock,” said the administration official, who declined to be identified publicly under the administration’s diplomatic protocol for briefing reporters. |
| American officials would not provide details of the steps they wanted Iran to take to halt its nuclear program. But the administration official said such steps would cover the level of enrichment, Iran’s stockpiles of nuclear material and the capabilities of Iran’s nuclear facilities as well as verification. Just how long the suspension would last also remains to be negotiated, but six months is one time frame that has been discussed. | American officials would not provide details of the steps they wanted Iran to take to halt its nuclear program. But the administration official said such steps would cover the level of enrichment, Iran’s stockpiles of nuclear material and the capabilities of Iran’s nuclear facilities as well as verification. Just how long the suspension would last also remains to be negotiated, but six months is one time frame that has been discussed. |
| “In response to a first step agreed to by Iran that halts their program from advancing further, we are prepared to offer limited, targeted and reversible sanctions relief,” the administration official said, without specifying what sanctions might be eased. | “In response to a first step agreed to by Iran that halts their program from advancing further, we are prepared to offer limited, targeted and reversible sanctions relief,” the administration official said, without specifying what sanctions might be eased. |
| American officials have said that they want to keep core oil and banking sanctions in place until there is a comprehensive agreement. The degree of relief the administration would provide for a “first step” would depend on the nuclear constraints Iran was willing to accept, officials said. | American officials have said that they want to keep core oil and banking sanctions in place until there is a comprehensive agreement. The degree of relief the administration would provide for a “first step” would depend on the nuclear constraints Iran was willing to accept, officials said. |
| One form of relief, American officials have suggested in recent weeks, might be unfreezing Iranian assets overseas and releasing them in phases. That would allow the White House flexibility in rewarding Iran and would avoid the risks of repealing more substantial sanctions. | One form of relief, American officials have suggested in recent weeks, might be unfreezing Iranian assets overseas and releasing them in phases. That would allow the White House flexibility in rewarding Iran and would avoid the risks of repealing more substantial sanctions. |
| If Iran violated the terms of a “first step” understanding or if a comprehensive agreement could not be reached, the sanctions could be reimposed. | If Iran violated the terms of a “first step” understanding or if a comprehensive agreement could not be reached, the sanctions could be reimposed. |
| Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but many experts say it is a guise for developing the ability to make nuclear weapons. Some possible constraints and forms of sanctions relief were discussed with Iranian officials last month, the administration official said. | Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but many experts say it is a guise for developing the ability to make nuclear weapons. Some possible constraints and forms of sanctions relief were discussed with Iranian officials last month, the administration official said. |
| Whether the limited sanctions relief the United States is prepared to offer will persuade Iran to suspend its program is unclear. | Whether the limited sanctions relief the United States is prepared to offer will persuade Iran to suspend its program is unclear. |
| “I think the P5-plus-1 ought to go in with as robust a sanctions relief package as they can in order to get the maximum amount out of the Iranians in terms of slowing down and fencing in enrichment,” Thomas R. Pickering, a former ambassador and under secretary of state who has been a strong advocate of negotiations with Iran, said in a recent interview. | “I think the P5-plus-1 ought to go in with as robust a sanctions relief package as they can in order to get the maximum amount out of the Iranians in terms of slowing down and fencing in enrichment,” Thomas R. Pickering, a former ambassador and under secretary of state who has been a strong advocate of negotiations with Iran, said in a recent interview. |
| American officials describe the initial understanding they are seeking with Iran as “a first step,” not an interim agreement, because they said it should be a move toward a more sweeping agreement. | American officials describe the initial understanding they are seeking with Iran as “a first step,” not an interim agreement, because they said it should be a move toward a more sweeping agreement. |
| Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has argued against a “partial deal,” which would raise the diplomatic and political cost for the White House if it appeared to be willing to settle for an interim accord with Tehran. | Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has argued against a “partial deal,” which would raise the diplomatic and political cost for the White House if it appeared to be willing to settle for an interim accord with Tehran. |