Deal in JCPOA Talks at Hand If Iran’s Interests Are Fulfilled: Spokesman

Commenting on the most recent round of Vienna talks for reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and lifting the sanctions on Iran, Nasser Kanaani said at a presser on Monday that relative progress and forward movements have been made in the talks.

“In general, we are at the progress stage, but it would depend on the other side when it comes to making a firm comment that a result has been achieved. The red lines of Iran must be observed and our interests must be ensured. In that case, the ground will be definitely prepared for signing an agreement in the near future,” he stated.

The spokesman noted that although progress has been made in a number of fields after the Iranian team of negotiators took part in the talks seriously, the advances have not fully satisfied Tehran’s legitimate demands.

Kanaani emphasized that Iran will consider the text of a deal to be finalized only when its red lines are observed and its economic benefits under the JCPOA are totally ensured.

Iran and the remaining parties to the JCPOA -- Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany -- started talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna in April last year. While the parties noted progress in multiple rounds of talks, the indecisiveness shown by Washington has prevented any significant breakthrough.

Last month, the negotiations were hosted in the Qatari capital of Doha in a different format, with Tehran and Washington holding indirect talks mediated by the European Union. Those talks also failed to produce any tangible result due to the excessive demands of the US.

After several months of impasse, the Vienna talks resumed in August and expert-level negotiations have been held between Iran and the P4+1 group of countries.