EU's Borrell 'Less Confident' On Nuclear Deal Than Short Time Ago

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has delivered a downbeat assessment of the state of talks over the Iran nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPoA). There has been significant back-and-forth on the prospect of an agreement. If a deal is reached, Iran could see sanctions lifted and hydrocarbon exports to west resume. If not, the status quo ante remains in place.

• Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Borrell: "I’m sorry to say that I am less confident today than 28 hours before about convergence of the negotiation process and about the prospect of closing the deal right now"
• Borrell: "The last interaction is not converging, it is diverging. That is very much worrisome, if the process does not converge. The whole process is in danger"
• The comments come after Tehran delivered its comments to the EU regarding a final EU plan for the JCPoA late last week. The US State Department said that Tehran's response to the EU proposal was “not constructive.”