The Latest: Iran diplomat calls talks on nuclear deal ‘good’

[Boats]

The Latest: Iran diplomat calls talks on nuclear deal ‘good’
BY: The Associated Press - 7-28-19
RE: https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/...233233606.html

Photo link: https://www.mcclatchy-wires.com/inco...ions_27982.jpg
This Monday, July 22, 2019 Maxar Technologies shows a close up of British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero at the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. President Hassan Rouhani suggested on Wednesday, July 24, that Iran might release the U.K.-flagged ship if Britain takes similar steps to release an Iranian oil tanker seized by the British Royal Navy off Gibraltar earlier this month. His remarks could create an opening to reduce tensions as Boris Johnson becomes prime minister. (Satellite image ©2019 Maxar Technologies via AP)

VIENNA
The Latest on tensions in the Persian Gulf and over the 2015 Iran nuclear accord (all times local):

3:00 p.m.

Iran's deputy foreign minister says discussions in Vienna with representatives from nations that want to salvage an unraveling nuclear accord were "good."

Seyed Abbas Araghchi told reporters after Sunday's meeting ended that "the atmosphere was constructive, and the discussions were good."

He added: "I cannot say that we resolved everything" but all the parties were still "determined to save this deal."

Representatives from Germany, France, Britain, China, Russia and the European Union participated in the meeting. The United States withdrew from the 2015 accord last year.

Iran is pressuring the remaining parties to the deal to offset sanctions President Donald Trump reinstated after pulling the U.S. from the agreement.

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12:15 p.m.

A Royal Navy warship has arrived in the Persian Gulf to accompany British-flagged ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, amid tensions after Iran seized a British tanker this month.

Britain's Ministry of Defense said Sunday that the HMS Duncan will join the Frigate HMS Montrose in the Gulf to defend freedom of navigation.

Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said the Royal Navy will escort U.K. vessels until a diplomatic resolution is found to secure the route again.

The British-flagged Stena Impero oil tanker was seized in the Strait of Hormuz a week ago. Some senior Iranian officials have suggested the ship was seized in retaliation for the British navy's role in seizing an Iranian supertanker off the coast of Gibraltar for violations of EU sanctions on oil sales to Syria.

The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and is a vital waterway for oil tankers.

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10 a.m.

Representatives from Europe, China and Russia, nations that are still committed to the Iran nuclear deal, are meeting with Iran's representative in Vienna on Sunday to discuss how to salvage the unraveling accord.

The diplomats aim to examine issues linked to the implementation of the nuclear accord after Iran surpassed stockpile and enrichment limits set out in the deal.

Iran recently begun surpassing uranium enrichment limits in the 2015 nuclear deal, saying these moves can be reversed if the other parties to the agreement — Germany, France, Britain, China, Russia and the European Union — come up with enough economic incentives to offset the U.S. sanctions that President Donald Trump reinstated after pulling his country from the nuclear accord.

Experts warn that higher enrichment and a growing stockpile narrow the one-year window Iran would need to have enough material to make an atomic bomb, something Iran denies it wants but the deal prevented.

2nd Photo link: https://www.mcclatchy-wires.com/inco...lery_77546.jpg
Speedboats from Iran's Revolutionary Guard circle the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero on Sunday, July 21, 2019 in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, after it was seized in the Strait of Hormuz two days earlier. Iran's president, Hassan Rouhani, suggested Wednesday that Stena Impero could be released if the U.K. takes similar steps to hand back an Iranian oil tanker seized by the Royal Navy off Gibraltar earlier this month. TASNIM NEWS AGENCY VIA AP MORTEZA AKHOONDI

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Personally I don't think the Middle East will ever really settle down. Decades of bitter fighting and harsh words and actions have made it almost impossible to get any resolve. Their ideologies are so different and always in flux plus having insecurities & trust issues which will never lead to any peaceful closure from all sides.

Boats