Top Negotiator: Iran remains firm on demands it presented at Vienna talks

Iran’s top negotiator in Vienna talks on the removal of sanctions imposed on the country says the Islamic Republic will not withdraw the demands it has put forth during the seventh round of talks with other signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal in the Austrian capital.
Ali Bagheri
Kani, who also serves as Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, made
the remarks in an interview with Italy’s ANSA news agency, which was published
on Sunday, saying that since the United States has illegally quit the nuclear
deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), it is
for Washington to take the first step to end the current situation surrounding
the accord.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not backtrack on its demands,
which it has put forth in a bid to reactivate the 2015 nuclear deal and get [US
sanctions imposed on Tehran] removed,” Iran’s top negotiator said.
Bagheri Kani added that Iran's proposed drafts were “documented
and logical” and therefore can be used as a basis for negotiations between
Tehran and the P4+1 group of countries, which include the UK, France, Russia
and China plus Germany.
The Iranian diplomat emphasized
that the Islamic Republic believes in negotiations and is
"optimistic" about their possible outcomes, but "unconstructive
behavior of some signatories [to the JCPOA] and their constant violation of
obligations force us not to be too optimistic."
Iran's lead negotiator said
Tehran has presented its plans of action to representatives of the P4+1 at the
seventh round of talks in Vienna in the form of two proposed draft
texts, one related to the removal of oppressive and unlawful US sanctions
and the other about the nuclear issue.
“These proposals are the basis for the negotiations, and the
opposite side should give a documented response to the Iranian team's
proposals. However, we will wait to see the outcome of the next round of talks,
which will be held within the next few days,” Bagheri Kani added.
The JCPOA was abandoned by former
US President Donald Trump in May 2018. Trump then targeted Iran’s economy with
what he called the “maximum pressure” campaign, but he failed to compel Iran to
negotiate a “new deal.”
Iran and the five remaining parties to the JCPOA began the talks in the Austrian capital in April with the aim of removing the sanctions after the US voiced interest to return to the agreement.