EU chief hopeful JCPOA deal will be reached in the 'coming days'

By Al Mayadeen
Source: Agencies
31 Aug 21:43

After months of intense negotiations and stalling on part of the US, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed hopes for the deal to be reached within days.

EU chief Josep Borrell

The EU's foreign policy chief said on Wednesday he was hopeful the Iran nuclear deal could be revived "in the coming days" after receiving "reasonable" responses to his proposed text from Iran and the US.

"I am hoping that in the coming days we are not going to lose this momentum and we can close the deal," Josep Borrell said after an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Prague.

"It's clear that there is a common ground, that we have an agreement that takes into account, I think, everyone's concerns," he said.

The EU put forward on August 8 what it called a final text to restore the landmark 2015 agreement that was trashed by former US president Donald Trump.

President Joe Biden took office with the goal of restoring the agreement, believing it was the best way to constrain Iran's nuclear program and that Trump's withdrawal had done nothing but lead Tehran to accelerate its nuclear work.

The new proposal would see Iran get sanctions relief and be able to sell its oil again in return for severe limits on its nuclear program.

Both Iran and the US have responded with a series of proposed changes.

But "Israel" has stepped up pressure on Western nations to block the deal.

Three days ago, it was reported that Tehran is currently carrying out "a careful examination of the US response" to the proposed nuclear deal, and will be ready to submit a final response to the American's position once the examination is complete.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that the remaining issues in the negotiations are related to the lifting of sanctions, "which are a few, but they are fundamental, delicate, and decisive." He also said that Tehran could not specify a timeframe for responding to the US proposals regarding the nuclear agreement, considering that negotiations are so far proceeding positively.

Today was scheduled a meeting between Amir-Abdollahian and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow to discuss the situation around the JCPOA deal as well as Russian and Iranian projects in energy and transport.

🇷🇺🇮🇷 FM #Lavrov during talks with FM of Iran @Amirabdolahian:

💬 The issues that stand out on the international agenda include the necessity to revive the #JCPOA on Iranian nuclear programme, our interactions on Syria & other crises in the region.

🔗 https://t.co/2W5XU0lSKs pic.twitter.com/FyIwUL143y
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) August 31, 2022