On a day when the temperature in Vienna matched the heat of the talks between Iran and six world powers, Mohammad Javad Zarif found time to enjoy the warmth of the sun on the balcony of his suite. Iran’s foreign minister seemed to be saying July 2 that he was in no hurry and was happy to sit back and enjoy the weather.
Two days earlier, on June 30, I met Zarif for almost an hour and half. It was an opportunity to understand the real situation, how things are progressing, and whether it will still be possible to see him and his counterparts put pen on paper in the coming days. While most of what was said in that session remains off the record, there were a few things that can be shared to clarify what is happening and make it easier to understand what Iran’s top negotiator thinks about one of the most decisive challenges in his life.
