Lasting Nuclear Deal Requires  Agreement on All Issues 

A lasting deal on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal cannot be reached until “all issues” are agreed upon, the Iranian foreign minister said. 
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks on Thursday, as negotiations on restoring the pact are pending a response by the United States to the latest initiative prepared by the European Union coordinator, IRNA reported. 
The 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, offered sanctions relief to Tehran in return for curbs on its nuclear activity, but the US pulled out four years ago and reimposed sweeping sanctions that prompted Tehran to scale down its commitments.
Negotiations to bring both sides back into compliance were stalled for months until the EU put forward a new draft that was discussed in Vienna, Austria, early this month. 
After further discussions at home, Iran submitted its response to the EU coordinator on Monday.
Tehran did not say yes to the draft and gave several requests mainly on the issue of getting more guarantees if the US were to again leave the agreement.
Speaking to his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi on the phone, Amir-Abdollahian reiterated Iran’s good faith and determination to reach a good and lasting agreement. 
“After receiving the US views, in the event that we make sure we can enjoy the economic benefits of the deal and our red lines are respected, we will enter a new stage in Vienna,” he said. 
Iran insists that all its economic benefits arising from the JCPOA must be restored in a verifiable and guaranteed manner. This includes the unrestricted sale of its oil and free repatriation of its revenues. 
The Omani top diplomat expressed hope that with the cooperation of all sides, the Vienna talks would reach a favorable outcome. 
Oman’s Foreign Ministry later said in a tweet that Albusaidi had a phone conversation with US special envoy on Iran Robert Malley a few hours later to discuss common interest and efforts to resume the JCPOA, although the US refused to confirm the dialogue explicitly. 
“Oman has played an important role…when it comes to discussions regarding a potential mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA … we thank Oman for that role it’s played,” Price said.  

US Reaction

Washington is yet to provide an answer to the draft and has been saying for the past week that it is continuing to review Iran’s comments. 
“Our review of Iran’s comments on the EU’s proposal continues,” US State Department Spokesman Ned Price told journalists at the department briefing Thursday.  
“We have continued to convey our feedback directly and privately to the EU, as has been requested.”
An EU official also said on Thursday that the bloc is waiting for US reaction. 
“Any moment, but it could be tomorrow of course,” an EU official said. 
Speculations were circulating on Thursday, particularly by Israeli officials, that the US was offering too many concessions, but the US National Security Council rejected such reports. 
“Reports that we have accepted or are considering new concessions to Iran as part of reentering the 2015 nuclear deal are categorically false,” NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.
“We have taken a deliberate and principled approach to these negotiations from the start,” the NSC spokesperson said, stressing that the US communication with the EU is private.
Ali Vaez, an Iran expert who closely follows the nuclear diplomacy, also suggested on Thursday that the US response seemed unlikely to be a flat yes. 
“I doubt the US answer to Iran’s demands would be a yes. It’s likely either a no or a middle ground compromise,” he said. 
If agreement is reached on all issues, a ministerial meeting will be held in Vienna to finalize a deal on restoring the JCPOA.