0700 GMT: Wednesday opened with uncertainty but moved towards the "positive" in the nuclear talks between Iran and the 5+1 Powers (US, Britain, Germany, China, Russia, and France) in Kazakhstan.
The turning point came with the press conference of Iran's lead negotiator, Saeed Jalili. Working with a prepared statement, Jalili used that key word "positive" in his assessment of the two days of formal and bilateral discussions. Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi was even more upbeat.
There was no big, equivalent moment from the 5+1; however, US officials put out the message that the talks were "useful" and emphasised that they had made two significant shifts: 1) Iran did not have to ship out all its 20% uranium and could keep some of it for civilian use, such as medical isotopes: 2) the Fordoo enirchment plant would have to suspend 20% enrichment but would not have to close.
And, of course, both sides said that more talks are to come --- technical discussions on 17-18 March in Istanbul, followed by another high-level gathering on 5 April.
Still, the "positive" should come with more than a bit of caution. Western media, in their enthusiasm, missed the caveats that Jalili put on the outcome, such as ""The West should abandon its hostile behaviors against Iran" and ""We know our rights regarding enrichment".
And Iranian media, in contrast to the general consensus in its US and European counterparts, is divided in its response. State outlet Press TV is still effusive, featuring Wednesday's reaction from Foreign Minister Salehi, "I'm happy to say that the outcome of the meeting was positive, that it has been put on the right track and it is moving in the right direction, and that is important."
However, State news agency IRNA is silent, possibly because of its support for President Ahmadinejad, who has been cut out of this process. So is the Iranian Students News Agency. Fars News, linked to the Revolutonary Guards, is edgier this morning after a warm reception on Tuesday for the announcement of the next talks.
Later this morning, we will have two analyses considering What We Do and Do Not Know about the outcome in Kazakhstan and what comes next.
Posted via email from lissping
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