Inside Story

A hidden agenda behind Iran’s nuclear talks?

Could it be that the West wants Iran to help solve wider regional issues than just nuclear proliferation?

Six world powers want Iran to curb its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of economic sanctions.
 
Tehran says it is not seeking nuclear weapons, but wants atomic energy.
 
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said a deal is close but US Secretary of State John Kerry warned that several points of disagreement remain.

Rouhani: “In these negotiations we have not yet reached a final agreement. But I can say that we have taken steps forward.

“Today looks very different to three months ago; it’s even more different to six months ago.

“The negotiating positions have come closer together and many of the points of disagreement have gone away. But of course there are other steps to take and other paths to follow.”
 
Kerry said: “Given how far we have come over the last year and particularly in the last few days this is not certainly the time to get up and walk away.

“These issues are enormously complex.They require a lot of tough political decisions, and they require rigorous technical analysis of concepts.”
 
But what are the real reasons for the impasse?
 
Could it be that the West wants Iran to help solve wider regional issues than just nuclear proliferation?

Presenter: Mike Hanna

Guests:

Emad Abshenass – Political analyst and editor in chief of the Iran Diplomat.

Vyacheslav Matuzov– Former diplomat and executive chairman of the Russian Friendship Society with Arab Countries.

Patrick Clawson – Director of the Iran Security Initiative at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.