State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Friday that the United States would not offer Russia any relief on Ukraine sanctions as a condition of continuing talks on the Iran Nuclear deal.
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Price said negotiators are "still working through a number, a very small number, but still a number of what are undoubtedly difficult issues." But he also warned America had "no intention of offering Russia anything new or specific as it relates to the (Ukraine) sanctions."
Negotiations aimed at restoring Iran's tattered nuclear deal with world powers went on what its European hosts described as "a pause" on Friday, after Russia demanded relief from sanctions targeting Moscow over its war on Ukraine.
Diplomats offered no timetable for when the monthslong talks in Vienna would resume. Negotiators even on Friday maintained that a roadmap was near for how the United States could rejoin the accord it unilaterally withdrew from in 2018, and for Iran to again limit its rapidly advancing nuclear program.
While Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, only referred to "external factors" forcing the pausing, it appeared the Russian demand caused the disruption.
"The real issue for this pause here is what Russia has thrown on the table, which is essentially a grenade in the middle of the negotiations," said Henry Rome, deputy head of research at the Eurasia Group who has been following the talks.
Price told reporters that decisions to progress with the talks was dependent on Iran and Russia.
"If that political will is there, if that seriousness of purpose is there, we remain confident that we can achieve a mutual return to compliance in fairly short order," Price said.
However, British negotiator Stephanie Al-Qaq struck a more somber note, warning Friday on Twitter that the "external factors must be resolved in next few days or agreement likely to unravel."
The 2015 nuclear deal saw Iran put advanced centrifuges into storage under the watch of the International Atomic Energy Agency, while keeping its enrichment at 3.67% purity and its stockpile at only 300 kilograms (661 pounds) of uranium. It also halted enrichment at its underground Fordo nuclear facility.
As of Feb. 19, the IAEA says Iran's stockpile of all enriched uranium was nearly 3,200 kilograms (7,055 pounds). Some has been enriched up to 60% purity — a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Meanwhile, Iran has stopped the IAEA from accessing its surveillance camera footage and has resumed enrichment at Fordo.
That has worried nuclear nonproliferation experts. While Iran insists its program is peaceful, the IAEA and Western governments say Iran had an organized military nuclear program up until the end of 2003.
Having Iran able to sell its crude oil and natural gas on the global market could also push down energy prices. Americans now pay the highest-ever prices at the pump for gasoline, fueled by Russia's war on Ukraine.
Negotiators likely could find other places for Iran's excess uranium to go than Russia and make other changes to the deal, Rome said. However, it remains unclear how long this pause could last.
"I think the longer the pause, the greater the risk that the talks enter a kind of zombie state where there is neither a breakthrough nor a breakdown, but Iran continues with its nuclear advancements," he said.