PHOTO: European Union’s Helga Schmid and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in latest nuclear talks in Vienna

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Iran has finally responded to claims, circulating since Wednesday, that Israel has been spying on the nuclear talks in Vienna between the Islamic Republic and the 5+1 Powers (US, Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia).

The muted reaction by Tehran to the claims, first published in The Wall Street Journal, has indicated that Iran did not want the issue to disrupt the negotiations. The two sides have been drafting a final text for a comprehensive agreement by June 30.

Friday’s move is still at a relatively low level, with Iranian diplomatic missions in Vienna and Bern expressing concern in official message to the Austrian and Swiss Foreign Ministries.

Citing the Russian cyber-security company Kaspersky, the Journal said that spyware had attacked the computer systems of the hotels hosting the negotiations in Vienna. Kaspersky said the spyware was an “improved version” of the Duqu virus, which has previously been used by Israel.

On Thursday, a member of the Iranian negotiating team said they had already taken into consideration “the high risk and possibility of eavesdropping”.

Senior US officials have previously told the Journal that they learned in 2014 of Israel’s spying on the talks.

In the 7th round of discussions since an April 2 framework, Iranian and 5+1 delegations have met from Wednesday to Friday. Iran’s team, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, held further bilateral discussions on Friday afternoon.


Oil Minister to US Companies: Please Get Washington to Lift Sanctions

Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, seeking foreign investment, has appealed to US companies to get the American Government to lift sanctions.

“Statements that lifting sanctions would only benefit the Europeans are not true. American companies must also seriously benefit from the removal of sanctions,” Zangeneh said in remarks published on Saturday.

“We can have extensive cooperation with American companies for purchase of planes, locomotives, electrical equipment in the oil industry and many other fields. These is no impediment in this regard,” he added.

The comments of Zanganeh, who has recently met executives of Western oil and gas companies to discuss investment, have been part of Iran’s recent drive to portray an economic boom as soon as a nuclear deal is agreed.

“We must not allow the US government’s restrictions to continue because the more competition, the better we can get high quality services and increase our bargaining power. There’s no reason not to do that,” Zanganeh said.