Negotiation with Iran: update May 2014

• The first stages of the process initiated in November 2013 have proceeded relatively smoothly

• Iran has suspended uranium enrichment to 20%, the level which is considered a risk because of the ease with which 20% uranium could be turned into weapons grade

• Iran has also diluted its existing stockpile to make it less of an apparent threat

• Solutions to the controversy over the Arak heavy water nuclear plant look possible

• Some sanctions have been suspended and billions of dollars of frozen Iranian assets have been made available

• New talks on a comprehensive agreement have begun in Vienna and commentators say this will be more difficult than the negotiations so far

• There remains considerable suspicion about the process in the US, Iran and Israel