Iran reaffirms commitment to talks on reviving nuclear deal

Iran has reaffirmed its commitment to continue the talks aimed at reaching an agreement on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal as the US and its European allies blame the protraction of the negotiations on Tehran.

“Iranian Foreign Minister [Hossein] Amir-Abdollahian recently reiterated that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s approach is to remain in the course of negotiations so as to reach a lasting and sustainable agreement that would simultaneously guarantee the fundamental interests of the government as well as those of the Iranian nation,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani told reporters on Monday.

Kan’ani said the three EU parties to the deal – France, Britain and Germany – and the United States have linked the talks to the latest violent riots in Iran, asserting that Tehran will not allow other states to interfere in its domestic affairs.

“Iran’s positions and stances on the talks have been frequently declared, and we are prepared to follow the [diplomatic] path as before,” he said.

He further made clear that the Islamic Republic is ready for bilateral interaction with all parties so that the negotiations would come to fruition.

“We will firmly stand up against any attempt by Western parties and the US government to impose new sanctions, exert pressure or set restrictions for the sake of concessions and compromise. We will respond in due time,” he added.

The United States, under former president Donald Trump, abandoned the JCPOA in May 2018 and reinstated the sanctions that the deal had lifted.

The talks to salvage the agreement kicked off in Vienna in April last year, months after Biden succeeded Trump, with the intention of examining Washington’s seriousness in rejoining the deal and removing anti-Iran sanctions.

Despite notable progress, the US indecisiveness and procrastination caused multiple interruptions in the marathon talks.

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