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Iran’s president: US insistence on Trump’s failed policies main obstacle to progress in Vienna

Wednesday, 09 February 2022 6:48 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 09 February 2022 7:00 PM ]

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi speaks on the phone with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on February 9, 2022. (Photo via President.ir)

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says the current US administration’s adherence to the failed policies of its predecessor with regard to Iran is the main obstacle to making “acceptable progress” in the Vienna negotiations which aim at bringing the 2015 Iran deal back to life.

Iran and the other parties to the Iran deal on Tuesday resumed the eighth round of talks to bring the US back into the deal and remove Washington's unilateral sanctions against Iran.

The US left the deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), under former president Donald Trump in 2018 and began to target Iran with a “maximum pressure” campaign.

The current US president, Joe Biden, has vowed to rectify the “failed” policy and re-enter the JCPOA. Ten months after beginning the Vienna talks, Biden has failed to deliver on his promise.

“The US administration’s clinging to the failed policies of the former administration is the major obstacle to making acceptable progress in the negotiations,” Raeisi said on Wednesday, during a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Raeisi also said the Islamic Republic is prepared to upgrade the level of its relations and cooperation with other countries, including Japan, irrespective of the fate of the JCPOA.

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He said Iran and Japan are founded on glorious and peaceful civilizations, adding that the two countries’ expansion of ties would benefit all nations.

“With the existing knowledge of the capacities of the two countries, we can take big steps towards strengthening Tehran-Tokyo relations,” the Iranian president said, according to a readout of the call published by his office.

“Tehran and Tokyo can play an effective role in creating and promoting peace and stability in the region and the world by strengthening joint cooperation,” he added.

Raeisi also said the interference of extra-regional countries is the main destabilizing factor in the region.

Referring to the Yemeni crisis, he underlined the need to have the Saudi-led blockade of Yemen lifted to put an end to the horrific massacre of the defenseless people of the impoverished Middle-Eastern country.

For his part, the Japanese premier extended his congratulations on the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

He said he visited Iran several times during his tenure as Japan’s foreign minister, adding, “َAs prime minister, with my knowledge of the capacities of the two countries, I seek to develop relations and activate joint cooperation capacities.”

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