Iran Urges EU to Avoid Politicizing JCPOA Talks

During a two-hour meeting on the sidelines of a regional summit on Iraq, held in Jordan on Tuesday, the top Iranian diplomat and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell talked about the latest regional and international developments and the course of negotiations on reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

In the gathering, Amirabdollahian expressed Iran’s readiness for the conclusion of the Vienna negotiations on the basis of a draft package that has been prepared following months of tough and intensive talks.

The Iranian foreign minister also advised the other parties to avoid politicizing the nuclear talks, adopt constructive and realistic stances, and make the necessary political decisions on the achievement of an eventual agreement.

He further condemned the Western governments’ support for the recent riots in Iran and their illegal sanctions against Tehran under the bogus pretext of backing the Iranian people’s human rights.

Describing support for human rights as a fundamental pillar of the Islamic Revolution, Amirabdollahian reminded the Western countries of their violation of the Iranian nation’s human rights, including by their obedience to the illegal US sanctions. He noted that the “crocodile tears” of the West in support of the Iranian people’s rights are by no means believable.

He also reiterated Iran’s support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine, stressed the need for the peaceful settlement of the crisis, and voiced the Islamic Republic’s readiness for direct interaction with Ukraine to clear up any misunderstanding.

For his part, Borrell expounded on the European Union’s stances on Iran in the past recent months.

The JCPOA and the nuclear talks are kept separate from the other topics, he added, stressing that the EU is determined to move the Vienna talks forward into results.

In a post on his Twitter account after the meeting, Borrell said he has held a “necessary meeting” with the foreign minister of Iran “amidst deteriorating Iran-EU relations”.

“Agreed we must keep communication open and restore JCPOA on basis of Vienna negotiations,” he added.

Since April 2021, several rounds of talks between Iran and the five remaining parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) -- Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia -- have been held in the Austrian capital to bring the US back into the Iran deal.

The Vienna talks, however, exclude American diplomats due to their country’s withdrawal from the deal.