TEHRAN(Bazaar) – Professor Frank N. von Hippel, former assistant director for national security in the White House Office of Science and Technology, says “I am sorry to hear that the Iranian negotiators do not share the optimism of the European negotiator. Of course, without Iran there can be no agreement.”
Following is the text of the Bazaar interview with Professor Frank N. von Hippel.
Bazaar: A new round of Vienna talks has ended. What is your assessment of this round of negotiations?
Frank von Hippel: I have no direct information, but I am encouraged that the European negotiator appears optimistic.
Bazaar: Western sources announce that the final text has been prepared in this round of negotiations and a decision should be made about it. Meanwhile, Iran says that the text is not final and there are still some unsolved issues. What is the reason for this huge difference in views?
Frank von Hippel: I am sorry to hear that the Iranian negotiators do not share the optimism of the European negotiator. Of course, without Iran there can be no agreement.
Bazaar: According to the Wall Street Journal, there will be no mention of safeguards in the European draft. How do you think the dispute will be resolved in this field?
Frank von Hippel: Iran accounting to the IAEA for the traces of anthropogenic uranium that the IAEA found at some Iranian sites is a separable and less urgent issue. Returning to the JCPOA or an interim agreement that allows the restoration of IAEA monitoring and ends Iran’s production of weapons-usable highly-enriched uranium is much more urgent.
Bazaar: According to the agreements that have been made in this round of negotiations, what is the chance of reaching an agreement?
Frank von Hippel: If the Iranian negotiators are not as optimistic as the Europeans and Russians, we are left wondering. It takes two sides to make a deal.
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