US Confused, Indecisive About Nuclear Talks

The United States has a “confused and indecisive” approach to negotiations on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, said a senior Iranian diplomat. 
“Their words and actions are twofold and contradictory,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said at a regular press briefing on Monday, ISNA reported. 
Americans take negative positions in their statements while their behavior and messages that they send through intermediaries are quite the opposite, he added. 
Indirect negotiations between Iran and the US have been underway since early last year in Vienna, Austria, to restore the JCPOA, which has been unravelling since Washington pulled out in 2018 and reimposed tough sanctions on Tehran, prompting it to respond by rowing back on its commitments. 
The talks, however, have been stalled for months over final differences. 
US officials accuse Iran of making demands that fall outside the scope of the JCPOA, while Iranians blame the US for failing to make the required political decisions. 
“If constructive measures are taken by the other side, the grounds are ready for the conclusion of an agreement,” Kanaani said. 
He reiterated that the ball is in the US court and they need to adopt a constructive approach and stop this contradictory behavior. 
“Iran is waiting for a practical measure by the other sides, particularly the US, to return to the agreed text, conclude an agreement and resume its implementation,” he said. 
American officials have been stating in the media that the Vienna talks are no longer their priority, as they have shifted focus toward other developments, namely the unrest in Iran and its alleged supply of arms to Russia. 
Tehran, however, maintains that the exchange of messages is underway through the European Union coordinator and other mediators. 
Most recently, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held a meeting with EU coordinator Josep Borrell on the sidelines of the Baghdad II conference in Amman, Jordan, where they discussed the way ahead. 
In the meeting, the details of the talks were reviewed and it was concluded that this course be pursued so as to reach the final steps, according to Kanaani. 
“We believe that the agreement is still on the table and in our view, the window is open to a deal,” he said. 
Iran demands assurances that the US would not violate the deal again under a new administration. It also wants the closure of investigations by the International Atomic Energy Agency into uranium particles allegedly found at undeclared sites, saying it is based on fabricated intelligence while the case had already been settled before the signing of the JCPOA in 2015. 

Resumption of Ties 

Kanaani was also asked about the status of tension-easing talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
“We believe that holding a new round of negotiations between the two countries in Baghdad is possible given the existing climate,” he said. 
Tehran and Riyadh severed diplomatic ties in 2016 after a group of Iranians stormed the Saudi embassy in response to the kingdom’s execution of a prominent Shia cleric. 
Both sides have been showing signs of interest in reconciliation in recent years, marked by five rounds of Iraqi-mediated talks in Baghdad. 
Amir-Abdollahian also met his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the sidelines of the Baghdad II conference. 
He later said in a tweet that the Saudi minister had assured him of his country’s readiness to continue dialogue with Iran.
Prince Faisal had said earlier that Saudi Arabia would continue to extend its hand to Iran for a “positive relationship” that serves the stability of the region.
Kanaani said the talks were “positive” and the two sides showed good will for the continuation of dialogue at ministerial level. 
Iraqi officials continue their mediatory efforts which is welcomed by both Tehran and Riyadh, he added. 
“There is interest and will in both sides for new steps forward and we can continue our talks with Saudi Arabia based on our declared and practiced policy until the resumption of ties between the two countries which have an important role in the region.”