Iran says JCPOA can be revived if Tehran’s red lines are met

Iran says “relative progress” has been made in the latest round of Vienna talks and that an agreement can be reached if Tehran’s red lines are met.

Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani reiterated Tehran’s long-standing position that it aims to reach a “sustainable and good agreement to remove the unjust sanctions imposed on Iran.”

He reported “relative progress” in the latest round of the talks, but noted that “Iran’s legitimate demands” have not yet been fully met.

Kan’ani added that discussions are underway in Tehran and that “additional opinions” on the European Union’s proposals would be submitted.

Negotiations have been held between Iran and the P4+1 group of countries – Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China – in the Austrian capital since April last year to restore the JCPOA, which was ditched by former US President Donald Trump in May 2018.

Four days of the talks culminated last Monday with a modified text on the table.

While the European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell claimed a “final text” had been reached, Iran emphasized it has conveyed its “initial response and reservations” on the draft text.

Kan’ani said consultations are ongoing at the highest level in Tehran, adding, “We are close to an agreement, but it is conditioned on the consideration of Iran’s red lines and the ensuring of the country’s main interests.”

While the parties have noted progress in the talks, the indecisiveness shown by Washington has prevented any significant breakthrough.

The talks began on the US administration of Joe Biden’s pledge to undo its predecessor’s withdrawal from the JCPOA and remove the sanctions Trump slapped on the Islamic Republic.