After years of bitterness between Iran and Western nations over the country's controversial nuclear programme, and a possible military confrontation as an ultimate option, the Vienna Agreement was reached in July in the Austrian capital Vienna, finally dismantling the threat. A moderate politician, Hassan Rouhani, won the Iranian presidential elections in 2013 with the priority of resolving the crisis over Iran's nuclear programme. Iran made it a condition of resuming the talks that they would meet only in cities where the United Nations had a headquarters, limiting the options to New York, Geneva and Vienna. The parties met in different cities, but during the 22 months of the negotiations that led up to the agreement most of the talks were held in Geneva and Vienna. It was in the latter city that the final accord, the historic Iran nuclear deal, was reached on 14 July. The beautiful city of Vienna, with almost two million inhabitants, is the capital and largest city of Austria. Vienna hosts many major international organisations, including the United Nations and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. One of the most important international treaties on diplomatic relations, the Vienna Convention, was reached in Vienna in 1961. Beside the city's political weight in international affairs, Vienna is regarded as the city of music. World-famous composers such as Mozart, Schubert and Haydn were all Viennese. Some of the world's finest art museums and historic buildings in the city centre perhaps make any political talks destined to succeed. The city's roots lie in early Celtic and Roman settlements that later became a mediaeval and Baroque city, as the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The historic centre of Vienna, where the nuclear talks were held, is surrounded by Baroque castles and gardens, making the atmosphere beautiful for the negotiators, as well as for the media. The charming Coburg Palace, where the nuclear talks were held, is one of the finest hotels in the city. The palace was built in 1840 by Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg in a part of Vienna that dates to 1555. The palace was sold in 1970 and today it is a five-star boutique hotel. According to the hotel's management, the nuclear accord adds value to the palace's history thanks to the Austrian government hosting the events in Vienna and making one of the building's balconies famous when the agreement was signed. One of the balconies was used by Iranian negotiators, particularly Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif, who was seen talking to the press there on several occasions. One of the main reasons the negotiators preferred Vienna to Geneva, where meetings had often been held, was because of the generosity of the Austrian government. According to Behzad Saberi, Iran's representative at the United Nations office in Vienna, the Austrian government paid all the negotiating delegations' expenses, including hotel bills, during their stay in Vienna. This was met with complaints from Iranian hardline newspapers, which had been upset at the talks and claimed they were being held in luxury hotels at Iran's expense. Since this was not the case, the talks could continue as long as necessary. Of course, such generosity during the 22 months of the negotiations was well received by Iran, and after the agreement was signed Austria was the first country to be invited to visit the country and invest. When he went to Tehran in September, Austrian President Heinz Fischer became the first Western head of state to visit Iran in more than a decade. He told his hosts of his hopes for economic gains for both countries as relations with Tehran thaw. “We expect to boost our volume of trade to 300 million euros in the short term, and we look forward to markedly increasing our economic relations,” he said in a joint news conference with Rouhani in Tehran. Iran's good relations with Austria today are a key part of the Tehran regime's plan to enter the European market, as well as improve its relations with other Western countries. Tourism, another interest of Rouhani's government, was discussed with the Austrian president. In a significant move, Austrian Airlines said it would increase its flights to Iran in its 2016 summer schedule. From 4 April 2016, the airline will operate four weekly flights to the Iranian city of Isfahan, in addition to its existing flight service to Tehran. With this new service, Austrian Airlines is further expanding its routes to Iranian destinations and will offer up to 18 direct flights each week to Iran in the future. The numbers of flights shows the expansion of trade that is expected between Iran and Austria after implementation of the nuclear accord. “After 30 years, a new bilateral air transport agreement between Austria and Iran was concluded recently. It serves as the basis for expanding our overall flight offering to Iran,” said Andreas Otto, CEO of Austrian Airlines. For many Iranians having difficulties travelling into and out of Iran, up to 18 direct flights each week will make their journeys much easier, especially if they want to travel to Central Europe. Due to international sanctions, many countries stopped direct flights to Tehran, and today the main travel route for travellers from Iran is via Turkey and the UAE. Direct flights to and from Vienna promise shorter and cheaper travel. Competition will likely make other airlines soon resume direct flights from European capitals to Tehran, and this will boost tourism and investment, as well as improve service to travellers. Meanwhile, Iran's deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, was in Vienna on 25 November to meet with the UN's nuclear agency chief, Yukiya Amano. He expressed his hope that things could be solved by the end of the year. Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were holding a wrap-up meeting before the agency gives its final assessment on the so-called possible military dimensions (PMD) to the agreement in mid-December. Araqchi said that the IAEA will provide its final assessment to its board of governors soon and expressed his hope that by 4 January the nuclear accord will be implemented fully. “The board will consider this assessment and conclude its consideration of the PMD case so we can proceed with the other parts of JCPOA,” he added, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action scheduled under the Vienna Agreement. The IAEA will give its final report to its board of governors on 15 December, assuring the world that the historic nuclear deal sealed in Vienna is operational.
