Following a meeting in Tehran on Wednesday with Pasquale Ferrara, General Director for Political Affairs and International Security at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran’s top negotiator, disclosed that the negotiations aim at preparing the necessary condition for the return of the US to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. 

Bagheri Kani emphasized, “As a result, the US cannot set conditions for Iran, which is a signatory to the agreement.” This comes after talks were halted when the deal was breached by the other party. 

As for the fate of the talks to come, he noted that the US will be assessed for its commitment and integrity to reach an agreement. 

Kanaani: It’s the other side’s turn to get the deal going 

Bagheri Kani and Ferrara stressed on the significance of bilateral relations in all domains, before heading to Vienna later on Wednesday to discuss the removal of sanctions and restoration of the 2015 nuclear deal. 

According to Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani, the new round of talks will center on the suggestions offered by the involved parties, including those of the Islamic Republic put forward this week, one being the reaffirmation of Iran’s determination to reach a lasting agreement that would guarantee the Iranian nation’s rights and safeguard its interests. 

Kanaani further expressed expectations that the other parties would get the ball rolling for effective progress in the JCPOA negotiations by making the essential decisions and focusing on pressing matters.

How it started, where it’s going 

Iran signed the nuclear deal in 2015, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers, agreeing to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. However, former US president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from the agreement in May 2018 and re-imposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to abandon some of the pact's commitments.

The talks on reviving the JCPOA began back in April 2021 in Vienna but were suspended in March of this year as a result of the political tension between Tehran and Washington. However, they were later resumed in June in Qatar's capital, Doha, after a three-month hiatus. 

Although political differences partially overpowered the discussion, Iran’s assessment of the overall Doha talks was positive, with Washington claiming otherwise.

Read more: US State Dept: No progress made with Iran on nuclear talks in Doha