Exclusive: no concessions for West for it to violate deal again - Marandi
3 Min Read
Adviser to the Iranian negotiating delegation in Vienna Seyyed Mohammad Marandi tells Al Mayadeen there still are key issues, and Iran cannot agree to a deal if they are not solved.
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Adviser to the Iranian negotiating delegation in Vienna Seyyed Mohammad Marandi
The West cast the blame on Iran Tuesday for the delay in the Vienna talks, saying the Iranians come up with "additional conditions and demands," some "impossible" to implement.
Iranian delegation adviser Seyyed Mohammad Marandi was surprised by the Western statements, as well as their claims that the talks were "98% complete".
"The West's assessments are not accurate, and the issues we have been posing have been there since the beginning," Marandi told Al Mayadeen, disagreeing with the Western notion that the solution was in Tehran's hands.
"Unless the Europeans agree to Iran's demands and fulfill the nuclear agreement, which stipulates the removal of sanctions and verifying their removal, as well as providing guarantees [to Tehran], we cannot reach a deal," Marandi underlined.
"Instead of trying to wage a psychological war and providing the media with false information, you can deal with the real issues, and then we can reach a deal sooner or later," he added.
When asked about the issue that the parties to the talks are unable to solve, Marandi clarified it was an old one that has been on the table since day one. "Some issues have been solved, but others are still stuck, and the Americans and Europeans must accept that Iran will not give them concessions only for them to go and violate the nuclear deal again."
He noted that his country's delegation hoped to strike a deal soon and that several issues are solved, but he also clarified that the Iranians would not be able to agree to a deal unless some key issues are overcome because they will turn into major ones that would hinder the accord altogether.
"The Europeans and the Americans cannot ignore reality, and they must accept full compliance, and for compliance to be acceptable and agreed upon by all parties, they must resolve all the issues that are still stuck rather than pressure Iran to accept something that is not in its interest."
Regarding the US timetable on reaching a deal before the end of February, Marandi recalled that the West had previously set many deadlines and Tehran ignored them, "Deadlines do not matter to us."
"We want a deal as soon as possible, because the Europeans and the Americans are punishing women and children, and we want to liberate women and children from the western sanctions."
Despite being in a hurry, Marandi underlined that Tehran would not push for a bad deal. "Even if it takes two days, two weeks, two months, or two years, this does not make a difference, for a bad deal is a bad deal."
According to the Iranian expert, a solution would lie in the West being more flexible and rational, saying it would take a long time if they adhere to delaying the process.
"It is up to them because Iran did not withdraw from the deal or violate it," in a nod to the United States withdrawing from the accord and imposing harsh sanctions on Iran despite the latter being in full compliance.
The eighth round of 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.
