Iran’s top negotiator in talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal criticized western parties for persisting in their “blame game”, calling for “real diplomacy” to advance the negotiations.
Ali Baqeri said Iran has played its part by proposing its ideas early and working “constructively and flexibly” to narrow the gaps, stressing that diplomacy is a two-way street.
“If there’s real will to remedy the culprit’s wrongdoing, way for quick good deal will be paved,” he said on Twitter.
His remarks came after diplomats from Britain, France and Germany warned on Monday that “time is running out” to rescue the pact, which they said would very soon become “an empty shell” without progress in negotiations.
“As of this moment, we still have not been able to get down to real negotiations,” they said in a statement.
Since April, the European countries, together with Russia and China, have been shuttling between Iran and the United States in the Austrian capital Vienna to work out how both sides can return to compliance with the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Tehran began exceeding the nuclear limits of the deal in reaction to Washington’s unilateral exit and reimposition of sweeping sanctions that jeopardized its economic interests.
The talks made good progress until June, when they faced an interval due to the presidential elections in Iran which brought a more conservative government to power.
The new administration sent eventually its delegation to Vienna in late November, where they presented two proposals, including reforms to previously agreed drafts.
The documents raised criticism by western countries who accused Iran of backtracking on diplomatic progress made and making maximalist demands.
“We are losing precious time dealing with new Iranian positions inconsistent with the JCPOA or that go beyond it,” the E3 diplomats said in their statement.
If western countries are concerned about time, they should start removing sanctions to show they are serious, according to Iran’s ambassador in London
“This is frustrating because the outline of a comprehensive and fair agreement that removes all JCPOA-related sanctions, while addressing our non-proliferation concerns, is clearly visible–and has been so since last summer,” they added.
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss had earlier said that the resumed talks were the Islamic Republic’s “last chance to come to the negotiating table with a serious resolution.”
“There is still time for Iran to come and agree this deal,” she told a news conference.
The US has also recently said it is preparing alternatives in case efforts to revive the deal fail.
“We continue in this hour, on this day, to pursue diplomacy because it remains at this moment the best option, but we are actively engaging with allies and partners on alternatives,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a visit to Indonesia.
Tehran maintains that its proposals are within the framework of the deal and contain no demand beyond its terms.
Iranian ambassador in the UK said it is up to the other negotiating side to take the first step by lifting sanctions.
“If I was there I would have told them if you’re concerned about time, please start removing sanctions. At least show us you’re serious… We don’t trust you” Mohsen Baharvand told BBC.
Reason for Progress
Russia offered a more optimistic assessment of efforts in Vienna, with its deputy foreign minister suggesting that chances for reaching an agreement have increased.
“I would rather say that there are reasons to expect some progress, not fast but at least clear, without any kickbacks and additional factors that can complicate [the situation]," Ryabkov told Russia’s Sputnik news agency.
He said Iran’s proposals demonstrate its utmost seriousness, adding that it is counterproductive to threaten Tehran with sanctions while nuclear talks are underway in Vienna.
Russia’s representative also said the negotiators are working hard to narrow down the differences, although numerous outstanding issues still remain.
“For example: the #JCPOA participants (without #Iran) and #US had a late Monday evening meeting. All of them (except for US) maintain close contacts with Iran,” Russian top negotiator Mikhail Ulyanov said on Twitter.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Monday, where both sides reaffirmed the common determination to revive the deal in its original, balanced form, which was endorsed by the United Nations Security Council.
Lavrov said that diplomatic creativity of all negotiating parties in addition to showing patience for achieving necessary coordination were keys to the success of the ongoing round of talks.
Amir-Abdollahian also called on the western parties to appear more serious and to come up with initiatives in the sanctions removal talks.
Baqeri had said in an earlier interview that the Iranian negotiating team has received no proposal or initiative from the other parties.
