The US government will need “some time” to study the Iranian response to the European Union proposal to revive the nuclear deal, but said that negotiations are now in their final stage.
“We are still studying [the response],” State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Tuesday, confirming the US receipt of Iran's reply to the final draft proposal aimed at saving the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“It will require some time to digest what has been provided to the EU and in turn what has been provided to us.”
On Monday, Iranian news agency ISNA said Tehran expected a response from the West in two days.
Mr Price said the US deliberations involve private consultations with the Europeans, but noted that the talks are now in the final stretch.
The current draft of the deal has taken 16 months of indirect US-Iranian talks, with the EU mediating.
A senior EU official said on August 8 that a “final” offer had been made and a response was expected within a “very, very few weeks”.
Mr Price expressed hope that the Iranian negotiators would take the final negotiations seriously.
“It is our hope that as we have now approached what should be the final stage of this, that the Iranians will demonstrate seriousness of purpose that we have not consistently seen until now,” he said.
He declined to share details of Iran's response, which reportedly isolates the sanctions hurdle as the main issue left for negotiation. Mr Price said that more details will need to be resolved before a deal can be reached.
“These are not simple issues. There are some challenging technical details that would need to be worked out,” he said.
The official reiterated Washington’s position that the negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme are strictly about those issues and not removing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from the US list of foreign terrorist organisations.
Iranian officials said the removal of sanctions, if an agreement could be reached, would help the global economy and increase energy supplies.
Lifting sanctions would boost Iranian oil exports at a time when the world market has been disrupted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani explained.
Addressing the issue of US detainees in Iran, Mr Price said the US is also “not tying the fate of American citizens [held in Iran] to the fate of a proposition, namely a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA”.
American citizens being held in Iran include Siamak Namazi, who on Tuesday marked 2,500 days in detention.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington is pursuing efforts for his release and that of his father, Baquer Namazi.
TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
What is Genes in Space?
Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.
It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
!['We are still studying [the response],' State Department spokesman Ned Price said. AFP](https://www.thenationalnews.com/resizer/v2/HSRCHLEIC7EMUWY2ET7DWWBGSI.jpg?smart=true&auth=b04c06a534dc06707cd7dd78683828c7d599a3ecb309fb538724c3f7c374fce3&width=800&height=450)
