News Analysis: Marathon nuke talks hammer breakthrough solutions

After missing the March 31 for two days, top negotiators from world powers and Iran Thursday have hammered out milestone solutions to address the disputing Iranian nuclear issue.

Negotiators, diplomats and analysts said the breakthrough not only paved the way for the final resolution of Teheran's nuclear issue, but also may end the 12-year stand-off between Iran and the West.

BREAKTHROUGH SOLUTIONS

Under the extension of the Geneva 2013 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), P5+1 countries (the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain plus Germany) and Iran are committed to reaching a political agreement by March 31, and then taking an additional three months to complete any technical annexes by June 30.

The achieved solutions on key parameters of JCPOA, which marks the wrap-up of the marathon talks, sheds more lights on solving the thorny nuclear issues, which focused on duration and size of uranium enrichment, the pace of lifting sanctions, limits on Tehran's nuclear research and development.

According to the details of the parameters unveiled by the Obama administration, Iran agrees to reduce its installed centrifuges to 6,104 from some 19, 000, suspend the enrichment of uranium over 3.67 percent for at least 15 years and cut its stockpiled low-enriched uranium from about 10,000 kg to 300 kg for 15 years.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday said the comprehensive agreement will provide for substantial limits on Iran's nuclear program and for the removal of all sanctions.

Meanwhile, it will respect Iran's needs and rights while providing assurances to the international community that its nuclear activities will remain exclusively peaceful, according to the UN head.

A diplomat source told Xinhua that "time" and "technology" are two major concerns in the bid to assure Iran to use nuclear energy peacefully, and all sides faced tough decision to give the concession.

"Without strong political will, without the parameters," the diplomat said.

IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD

"Today, the United States, together with our allies and partners, has reached a historic understanding with Iran," U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday welcomed the "historic" framework deal.

In the past eight days, to race against the clock and break the deadlock, the top negotiators from the P5+1 countries convened extremely intensive ministerial coordination meetings and plenary meetings with the Iranian negotiating team to narrow down differences on the major sticking points.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who joined the key negotiations from March 29 to 31 and raised a four-point proposal, hailed the Iranian nuclear talk as an "important step" towards a comprehensive deal by June 30.

Camelia Entekhabi, an analyst on the Iranian issue told Xinhua that the negotiations in Lausanne is "quite a success," adding the deal is important for Iran, whose economy needs the sanction to be lifted to improve, even though some issues are still on the table.

She said Iran is not only interested in having the nuclear deal, but also in coming back to the international community.

THREE MONTHS AHEAD

"Without this statement, they couldn't continue the upcoming three months," Entekhabi attached great importance on the statement finalized by the efforts from all sides.

For the rest of the time, she said, it would be professional technician and experts to work on the final draft of comprehensive deal.

"It just works on the details," she added, "that's why I want to say today is a historic day even though the final document has to be signed on July 1." Endit