Lead Negotiator: Iran to Put Forward Ideas with P4+1 to Conclude N. Talks
TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's Top Negotiator and Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Baqeri Kani confirmed that the European Union had put forth a new proposal, and stated that Tehran will share its own ideas with the Western parties to the nuclear deal to sum up the negotiations.
Bagheri Kani wrote on Twitter on Tuesday he had "serious and constructive" exchanges with other parties to the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in the course of the past week on the negotiations held since April last year in the Austrian capital of Vienna on a potential revival of the 2015 agreement.
He added that EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, as coordinator of the JCPOA Joint Commission, has shared his ideas aimed at facilitating a final agreement.
"We, too, have our own ideas, both in substance & form, to conclude the negotiations which would be shared," the top diplomat said.
Earlier, the European Union's foreign policy chief had said he has proposed a new draft text to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, adding there is no room left for further major compromises.
"I have now put on the table a text that addresses, in precise detail, the sanctions lifting as well as the nuclear steps needed to restore the JCPOA," the European Union's Josep Borrell wrote in an essay in the Financial Times.
Borrell did not provide details about his proposal.
US State Department Spokesman Ned Price has also confirmed the report, and told reporters that Washington was reviewing the "draft understanding" Borrell shared with Iran and other parties to the 2015 accord, and would respond directly to the EU.
Iranian officials say the ball is in the US' court, and the administration of President Joe Biden should assure Tehran that it will not repeat Donald Trump's past mistakes.
On Monday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kana'ani reiterated Iran's serious will to achieve an enduring agreement, and stated that his country and the other parties to the nuclear deal can reach an agreement if Washington responds positively to Tehran's initiatives.
"We are serious about reaching a lasting and strong agreement and so far, we've shown a great deal of flexibility," the diplomat said.
"If the other side [the US] acts constructively, and responds positively to Iran's initiatives, an agreement is within reach," the spokesman added.
Iran and the five remaining parties to the nuclear deal have held several rounds of negotiations since April last year to restore the agreement, which was unilaterally abandoned by Trump in May 2018.
In quitting the agreement, Trump restored sanctions on Iran as part of what he called the “maximum pressure” campaign against the country. Those sanctions are being enforced to this day by the Biden administration, even though it has repeatedly acknowledged that the policy has been a mistake and a failure.
Iranian officials have criticized Washington for raising excessive demands from Tehran during the nuclear talks, and blocking efforts to reach an agreement on the JCPOA. They emphasized the Tehran's will to reach a good, strong and lasting agreement, and stressed that the US should lift unilateral sanctions, and assure Iran that it will not repeat its past mistakes.