FM Hopes Nuclear Talks Will Go Back on Track

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed hope that talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal will go back on track and keep moving forward in the near future. 
“We will continue to pursue the course of diplomacy, which is the right course, and invite the United States once again to be realistic so that we can reach the final stage of negotiations,” he said in a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Tehran on Thursday, IRNA reported.
Talks have been underway in Vienna, Austria, to work out how the US and Iran can resume compliance with the nuclear deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
The JCPOA lifted sanctions on Iran in return for restrictions on its nuclear activity, but Washington pulled out four years ago and reimposed sweeping sanctions on Tehran, prompting it to row back on its commitments. 
Despite agreement on the majority of issues during a year of on-and-off discussions, the Vienna talks have been stalled since March over a few final differences. 
Amir-Abdollahian said the process has reached a difficult stage which requires a break, but the European Union, as coordinator of the talks, is carrying on with its efforts to bring all sides back to the negotiating table. 
Planning for the resumption of talks is in the Foreign Ministry’s agenda on this basis, he added. 
“We are determined to reach a good, strong and lasting deal,” he reiterated, hoping that an agreement can be reached soon with realism on the part of the US.  

No Deduction or Addition

Russia’s top diplomat also stressed the need to restore the nuclear deal in its original form which was agreed in 2015 and endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231. 
“The JCPOA must be revived without any deduction or addition,” he said. 
Along this line, all illegal sanctions against Iran which are in violation of the agreement must be removed, according to Lavrov.
“We hope that Washington will make a logical choice in this course.” 
He also censured the US for putting a brake on negotiations alone while accusing others for the pause. 
“Washington tried to accuse Russia for causing a break in talks, but everyone admits that this is not right, we are ready for the revival of the JCPOA in its complete form,” he said. 
Despite expression of willingness to conclude the negotiations, the US has taken counterproductive measures in recent weeks. 
Along with European partners, it pushed for a resolution against Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors which was passed in early June. 
Amir-Abdollahian described the document as “wrong and uncommon,” expressing appreciation to Russia and China for their opposition.  
The US then introduced new sanctions targeting Iran when Tehran responded to the IAEA resolution by curbing its cooperation with the agency and advancing its nuclear activity. 
However, Iranian officials maintain that diplomacy is still a viable means to reach a deal on the JCPOA, in spite of the US unfaithfulness.
Lavrov said the US approach to Vienna talks is aimed at proving that it has indisputable leading role in all international agendas. 
“Not only in JCPOA talks, but in any other issues, the US considers its own domestic reservations,” Lavrov added.