EU states attempting to block Vienna talks: Iranian source
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An informed source tells the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) several European countries are trying to obstruct the Vienna talks.
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Police stand outside a hotel where a meeting of the JCPOA is held in Vienna, Austria, April 20, 2021 (Reuters)
Several European countries - namely the United Kingdom, France, and Germany - are trying to obstruct the Vienna talks ahead of the Joint Commission meeting, an Iranian source told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Friday.
The source noted that the European troika's attempts to block the talks "get to the point of escalating tensions with the parties to the negotiations, including the European Union, China, Russia, and even the United States."
"The other parties agree on the path Iran is taking, but the United Kingdom, France, and Germany are trying to get heavier concessions from Iran and undermine its interests through uptaking a destructive role," the source said.
This was a matter of conflict even for the US representative at the negotiations, the source indicated.
The attempts come with the intent of blocking the parties from reaching an agreement to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, they added.
Underlining France's "destructive role" in the media, the source underscored France's reporting of negative news on the negotiations as "an informed source to some international media organizations... not to mention the negative stance of senior officials in these countries and the United Kingdom's role, whether within or outside of the negotiations, it was built and implemented on the same basis."
A common aspect between the countries, they said, was the concern over Iran's role growing in the face of the regional and international developments, "Which undermines the role of the Israeli entity on the one hand and limits the economic interests of the three European countries in terms of arms sales."
Iranian chief negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani announced Friday that good progress has been made this week, and that the joint committee would hold a meeting this afternoon, following a hiatus.
The Joint Commission will meet Friday with an Iranian delegation, the European Union, and the P4+1 in the Austrian capital, prompting the end of the 7th round of talks.
