Iran’s FM to EU’s Borrell: West’s lack of resolve prolonging Vienna talks

Iran’s foreign minister tells the European Union’s foreign policy chief that lack of resolve to achieve a good deal in the Vienna talks on the revival of the 2015 Iran deal has caused the negotiations to become unnecessarily prolonged.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a Monday phone call with Josep Borrell, during which the two diplomats discussed the latest situation of the ongoing negotiations in the Austrian capital.

During the phone call, the Iranian foreign minister thanked Borrell and his deputy, Enrique Mora, who is also the head of the joint commission on the Iran deal, which is officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), for their efforts.

“Some hasty measures, repetitive tampering with the text and lack of serious resolve for achieving a good and reliable agreement in Vienna by the Western sides have caused the negotiations to become unnecessarily protracted,” Iran’s top diplomat said.

Pointing to "serious efforts" by Iran's chief negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani during the ongoing talks with the P4+1 group of countries in Vienna and "realistic" initiatives offered by the Iranian negotiating team, Amir-Abdollahian emphasized that any proposal offered by the other parties must take Tehran's legitimate rights and demands into consideration.

"We will never back down from our red lines, which are based on logic and realism," he said.

Envoys from Iran and the five remaining signatories to the deal -- Britain, France, Russia, and China plus Germany -- have been negotiating in the Austrian capital for 10 months with the aim of reviving the JCPOA through bringing the US back to the deal.

The two sides have bridged some gaps since the talks began last year, but differences remain, especially on the issue of US sanctions. Tehran wants all sanctions imposed by the administration of former US President Donald Trump removed and says the issue is its red line.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Irish counterpart earlier in the day, Amir-Abdollahian said it is possible to reach a good agreement on the JCPOA revival if the United States and the European signatories to the agreement -- Britain, France and Germany -- are serious about returning to full implementation of their commitments.

Iran FM: Good agreement on JCPOA revival possible in short term if US, E3 serious about commitments

Iran

He added, “We believe that if the American side and the three European countries [that are signatories to the JCPOA] are serious about returning to the full implementation of their commitments as per the JCPOA, achieving a good agreement will be possible in short term.”

His remarks came after a source close to the Iranian delegation in the Vienna talks said on Saturday that Tehran has put many offers on the table and encouraged the other side to come up with new proposals to resolve the outstanding issues.

Iran has put many offers on table, encouraged other side to do the same: Source tells Press TV

A source close to the Iranian delegation in Vienna talks says Tehran has put many new offers on the table to solve the outstanding issues.

"Also, it should be noted that the Iranian delegation has a clear mandate and negotiating instruction, and developments outside the scope of the talks in Vienna, have no effect on the negotiating stances of Iran," the source pointed out.

Vienna talks at sensitive stage, all sides must help make progress: Borrell

The senior EU official, for his part, hailed great efforts made so far by the negotiating teams of Iran and the P4+1 group of countries to salvage the JCPOA.

He said the Vienna talks have reached a sensitive stage and all the participants must show flexibility and take the existing possibilities and limitations into account to help advance the negotiations.

Amir-Abdollahian and Borrell agreed to continue close consultations to advance the Vienna talks, saying that the overall course of negotiations has been positive.

Earlier on Monday, Iran's lead negotiator and the EU deputy foreign policy chief held a bilateral meeting in Vienna as the eighth round of talks between Tehran and the five remaining parties to the JCPOA is underway.

Russia, Iran FMs note 'tangible' progress in JCPOA revival talks

In another development on Monday, Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement, saying that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart.

The Russian ministry's statement added that during the call, the two foreign ministers noted that there is a "tangible move forward" in reviving the Iran deal during the Vienna talks.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said during the conversation, Lavrov lauded Iran’s constructive initiatives during the Vienna talks and stressed the need for continuation of consultations among various parties in order to achieve a final agreement.

Amir-Abdollahian, for his part, underlined the necessity of paying attention to Iran’s right to expect the opposite sides to abide by their commitments in case of any agreement.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk