Iran: To resume 20% uranium enrichment if talks fail

 If talks over Iranian nuclear issue fail to result in a comprehensive deal, Iran will resume its high- grade uranium enrichment, semi-official ISNA news agency quoted Iran's senior nuclear negotiator as saying on Friday.
"It is possible for Iran and the P5+1 group to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement, but the two sides have big differences on some subjects" over the country's nuclear program, Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday.
"We need hard work, wisdom and creativity to dilute differences, " however, "if the talks fail, Iran will return to 20 percent uranium enrichment," he was quoted as saying.
"Failure to reach a comprehensive deal will be a disaster for both sides," he said.
Under an interim deal clinched between Iran and the world powers in Geneva last November, Iran agreed to suspend 20-percent uranium enrichment and to dilute or oxidize its high-grade enriched uranium stockpile.
Although November interim deal can be extended for another six months if agreement cannot be reached, there are concerns that prolongation of negotiations may bring about other problems and make a comprehensive deal even difficult, he added.
Before the upcoming Vienna nuclear talks slated for June 16-20, Iran has already started to hold bilateral meetings with members of the P5+1, so as to narrow the gaps between the two sides.
If all parties were to leave the negotiating table in Vienna without striking a final accord, then the talks could be extended for another six months under the terms of the November deal.