Disagreements in Vienna Talks Narrowing: Iran’s Top Negotiator
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s top negotiator in the Vienna talks on the revival of the JCPOA said disagreements among the parties over the range and extent of the topics have been narrowing.
In an interview with IRNA in Vienna on Sunday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri said the meetings that have been held in the past recent days at the level of experts and top negotiators have resulted in the reduction of differences on the scope of the issues under debate.
“The parties are reaching a definite conclusion on the range and scope of the subjects that must be put on the agenda of the negotiations,” the senior Iranian negotiator added.
In another interview with Press TV, Baqeri said the Iranian side has not received any constructive initiative or proposal from the opposite side during the ongoing negotiations.
He said the removal of the illegal and cruel US sanctions and Iran’s nuclear activities are two main sticking points in the current talks over which there still remains a host of differences between the two sides.
The Iranian diplomat added that despite this situation, Iran’s delegation has informed the opposite side of its views on differential points through modifications and proposals that it has offered the opposite party.
Iran’s lead negotiator further stated that the removal of the illegal and cruel US sanctions and Iran’s nuclear measures are the most important bones of contention between the two sides during Vienna talks over which many differences still remain unresolved.
In another interview with IRIB, Baqeri said the general atmosphere in the ongoing Vienna talks is very serious, adding that he is optimistic that a final agreement would be reached.
The JCPOA was abandoned by former US president Donald Trump in May 2018. Trump then targeted Iran’s economy with what he called a “maximum pressure” campaign, which failed to compel Iran to negotiate a “new deal.”
Iran and the five remaining parties to the JCPOA -- Germany, Britain, France, Russia and China -- began the talks in the Austrian capital in April with the aim of removing the sanctions after the US, under President Joe Biden, voiced its willingness to return to the agreement.