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French President Emmanuel Macron and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed on the need to intensify their joint efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran, a statement issued by the French presidential office said on Wednesday.

In the same context, China's representative to the Vienna talks, Wang Qun, underlined that the negotiations are now in their final stages, hoping that steps toward the final agreement will be achieved.

The Chinese delegate affirmed that the negotiations are a step away from the final agreement, noting that this is what all sides are striving for.
 
Qun praised Iran's "enormous" efforts and highlighted that Tehran has been taking a very straightforward approach in the negotiations, and its representatives have put everything on the table.

Le Drian: A deal "within grasp"

For his part, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned Wednesday that a major crisis would be unleashed if an agreement was not reached in Vienna.

"It is not a question of weeks, it is a question of days," Le Drian told the French Senate, adding that the "moment of truth" had now arrived in the marathon process.

He described a deal as being "within grasp" and noted there is now agreement on an accord between the European powers in the negotiations -- France, Germany, and Britain -- as well as China, Russia, and the US.

"We have found convergence significant enough to enable an agreement that is within grasp right now," he pointed out.

Le Drian claimed that "we need political decisions from the Iranians. They have a very clear choice."

Dialogue reached critical stages

It is noteworthy that Western sources taking part in the Vienna negotiations told Al Mayadeen the dialogue with the Iranian delegation in Vienna has reached critical stages, and resolutions may reach a final agreement, provided that Iran removes certain obstacles and conditions. 

In a related context, Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stressed that "America's definite breach of covenants is the most important factor threatening any agreement."

"The real lifting of sanctions means that Iran enjoys reliable and sustainable economic benefits," Shamkhani wrote in a tweet on Tuesday, noting that "verifying the lifting of sanctions and providing guarantees are an integral part of a good agreement."

Amir-Abdollahian: Washington failed to address Iran's demands

Washington should, according to Tehran, make a "political statement" reinstating its commitment to the Vienna talks in case the negotiations come to a turning point, although they are said to be 98% complete. 

The Financial Times, conducting an exclusive interview with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said Washington had failed to address Iran's demand for a guarantee that no party will abandon the deal, as it did under the Trump administration in 2018. 

The eighth round of the Vienna negotiations on lifting the embargo on Iran resumed between the Iranian delegation and the P4+1 in the Austrian capital on February 10 following an 11-day hiatus for consultations.