Envoy stresses Iran's redlines in nuclear talks

Iran's Envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reza Najafi reiterated that domestic uranium enrichment and complete removal of the sanctions are Iran's redlines in nuclear talks with the world powers.
"Final agreement can only be reached with the complete removal of the sanctions imposed against Iran by the West and also by respecting the country's domestic uranium enrichment for civilian purposes," Najafi said on Thursday.
He underlined that a final agreement with all sides can be achieved if the negotiating sides respect each other's rights and responsibilities.
The 10th and last round of negotiations between Iran and the six world powers was held in Vienna from November 18 to 24.
In July, Tehran and the six countries agreed to extend negotiations until November 24 after they failed to reach an agreement on a number of key issues.
After last month's talks, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister and senior negotiator Seyed Abbas Araqchi announced that major differences were still in place between Tehran and the world powers, including the details of Iran's enrichment program and mechanisms for removal of the sanctions.
"The issue of enrichment and its limits, extent and capacity, as well as the mechanisms needed for the removal of sanctions are two key issues," Araqchi said.
"In addition, there are also several other issues that might not be among the key issues, but are sufficiently important and if they are not resolved, we will not reach any agreement," he added.
Noting that the negotiations are now being held in a more rational atmosphere, Araqchi said, "The result of the negotiations will be something which would meet our redlines and safeguard whatever we have, enrichment will continue and certainly all sanctions will be annulled in the form and sequence (that they have been imposed)."
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU coordinator Catherine Ashton announced last month that the talks had been extended until July 10, and the world powers had taken up to release $700 million of Iran's frozen assets on a monthly basis.