An Iranian diplomat who requested anonymity said the Americans wanted a big show of publicity for an agreement, to justify progress before the US Congress. “But we can’t have such a big triumph here when in our country we are obliged to have only one final agreement; plus the hardliners can’t tolerate this closeness with the US,” the diplomat told Al-Ahram Weekly.

Only one agreement is what Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asked for and insisted upon. Publicly, Iran’s supreme leader asked negotiators to ensure no separation between the political and technical deals.

Yet this “general statement”, which may sound ephemeral, is critical in paving the road for a more comprehensive deal, due 1 July. The general statement makes it easier for negotiators to work on the details and outline issues to be included in the final document.