Interim Deal in Vienna Still Off the Table: Iranian Source
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A source close to the Iranian team of negotiators in the Vienna talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal dismissed plans for an interim agreement, reiterating that Tehran keeps insisting on the achievement of a lasting and reliable agreement.
Speaking to Tasnim on Saturday, the source commented on the reports about a possible interim agreement with Iran in the course of Vienna talks, saying, “As mentioned several times before, plans for an interim agreement have never been on Iran’s agenda, and the Iranian team still seeks to achieve a sustainable and reliable agreement.”
The source made it clear that an interim deal remains off the agenda of the Iranian team in the JCPOA talks.
The comments came after NBC News quoted two US officials as saying that Russia has discussed a possible interim agreement with Iran in recent weeks that would involve limited sanctions relief in return for re-imposing some restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program.
It added that the US is aware of Russia’s proposal to Iran.
The eighth round of negotiations between Iran and the remaining signatories to the 2015 deal –Iran, Russia, China, the UK, France and Germany- began last week in the Austrian capital as sources close to the talks say the Iranian team insists on a long-term and reliable agreement, rejecting an interim one.
Reports suggest that the factual verification of the removal of US sanctions, which had been one of the main issues that the Western parties were opposed to, has been officially recognized and a discussion on the mechanisms of verification is still ongoing.
