Amir-Abdollahian: Realistic attitude required from West to reach a deal
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Tehran has unveiled many initiatives to resolve the issue so far, says Iranian Foreign Minister.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said during a phone conversation with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Wednesday, that “Tehran has unveiled many initiatives to resolve the issue so far, and now reaching an agreement requires a political decision and a realistic attitude from the West.”
He emphasized the importance of the Vienna talks' outcome in protecting Iran's national interests, most notably in the economic sphere.
Diplomats participating in the eighth round of talks in Vienna have recently stated that "a deal is within reach" if the remaining, narrowed-down issues are set, the Iranian Foreign Minister added.
During his phone call, Amir-Abdollahian also voiced contentment with Iran and China's close cooperation in Vienna, saying it is critical that the two countries maintain this trend.
On his account, the Chinese foreign minister emphasized the close contacts between Tehran and Beijing during the Vienna talks, saying that many accomplishments have been made through coordination and joint efforts.
Wang stated that the remaining issues in Vienna are critical.
He stated that China understands and supports the rational demands of the Iranian side.
Furthermore, Wang also voiced hope that the talks would continue to progress and eventually result in an agreement.
Talks in Vienna to resurrect the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), started in April of last year with the assumption that the US is willing to abolish the so-called maximum pressure policy against Tehran.
Just a few days ago, the talks were reportedly nearing completion, and Iran announced that the deal is now contingent on the West making a number of political decisions.
Meanwhile, the heads of delegations returned to their respective capitals for additional consultations. The chief negotiators of the three European countries that are parties to the JCPOA – France, Germany, and the United Kingdom – collectively known as the E3, requested the brief break.
Prior to the break, Iran stated that it had made all necessary decisions to move the talks forward and that it is now up to the West to make political decisions on the talks. As a result, when Iran's chief negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, returned to Tehran, Iranian media predicted that the break would have little effect on Iran's stance toward the talks.
At the time, Kani said that the ground and the necessary conditions for a win-win situation were provided, yet the fulfillment of negotiations depends on the West's goodwill and seriousness.
Bagheri Kani arrived back in Vienna on Monday. Even before Bagheri arrived in Vienna, the E3 negotiators began to harden their stance. On February 27, French political director Philippe Errera tweeted, "Tehran is playing with fire."
On his account, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said, on Wednesday, that the country's main strategy is to develop mechanisms to neutralize the sanctions it is facing while also attempting to secure the removal of the illegal restrictions.
At a special meeting with a group of lawmakers on the latest developments in the Vienna talks, Shamkhani added that “the bitter experience of the US’ non-commitment and the European inaction has made it inevitable to meet the requirements for the conclusion of a credible, balanced and lasting agreement.”
Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh has warned on Monday the US administration against "bluffs and bluster" in the Vienna talks to resurrect the 2015 Iran deal, emphasizing that Tehran is willing to reach an agreement through negotiations but will not wait indefinitely.
The Iranian diplomat blamed the US for the current situation, emphasizing that Washington's possible return to the JCPOA must be accompanied by a lifting of sanctions in a verifiable manner.
It is worth mentioning that Iran has stated that it will not accept anything less than the complete removal of all US sanctions in a verifiable manner. It also wants assurances that Washington will not withdraw from the agreement again.
