Nuclear Deal Doesn’t Mean Iran-US Rapprochement

Kayhan Int’l Political Desk TEHRAN – Iran’s Ground Force Commander Brig. Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdastan says a possible nuclear deal between Tehran and the world powers does in no way mean rapprochement between Tehran and Washington.

Date: 05 July 2015 - 21:15

News ID: ۱۵۸۰۲

"The United States might make a deal with us within the framework of the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany), but we should never see this as a positive gesture on the part of our enemy," Pourdastan says.
The Iranian military commander elaborated on the cause of his pessimism about the US, saying, "Our enmity with the US is a matter of principle. We seek truth, freedom and justice. They exploit nations and create failed states."
His comments come as Iranian and G5+1 negotiators are making last ditch efforts in Vienna to prepare the text of a final deal. The negotiating sides remain divided on issues such as lifting the sanctions regime immediately after a final deal - one of the thorniest disagreements between Tehran and the United States.
Western diplomats close to the negotiations say they have had "tentative agreement” on a mechanism for suspending US and European Union sanctions – a claim dismissed by their Iranian counterparts. This is because the six powers have yet to agree on a United Nations Security Council resolution that would lift sanctions altogether – Iran’s red line.
The negotiators missed a June 30 deadline for a final agreement, but have given themselves until July 7. Foreign ministers not in Vienna are expected to rejoin their counterparts in a final push for that crucial agreement.
This is while Iran has issued a warning about consequences of a collapse in the talks.
"The other side has tried all kinds of pressure against Iran and if it intends to test these pressures again, as President Hassan Rouhani has said, our response would be actions harder than what the other side imagines," says nuclear spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi.
All sides say a deal is within reach, though. But there are other sticking points in addition to sanctions and future monitoring mechanisms. One is Iran's demand to continue research and development work - as agreed on Lausanne, April 2.