A top Iranian official, in an unusual declaration Saturday, said there remains no trust between Tehran and world powers and either side could yet abandon a nuclear deal after signing.In other words, you can't trust Iran to keep a single provision of the deal if they can find the flimsiest pretense.
In comments that laid bare a paradox of long-running negotiations between Iran and the West, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said an agreement -- due by June 30 -- was nearing despite neither side trusting the other.
A final accord could rein in aspects of Iran's nuclear programme while allowing it to continue to enrich uranium in exchange for a lifting of sanctions, but breaches could see the deal being ripped up.
"Our basis is mistrust and this is the reality," Araghchi was quoted by state television as saying at the end of the latest round of talks in Vienna with the P5+1 group of nations that has been talking to Iran for almost two years.
"We don't trust the other side at all and they don't trust us either," Araghchi said, noting so-called "snapback" provisions would be as relevant to Iran as to the United States if measures are reneged on.
"Thus all the provisions in a deal... whenever each party feels the other side is violating the commitments, they can snap back and implement whatever existed before the agreement.
"We have taken every necessary measure so this would happen for us. Naturally, the other side will do the same for sanctions," he added.
Once again...sounds familiar.
(h/t Mike Anon)