Exclusive: Vienna talks progressing, US delaying - Marandi
The adviser to the Iranian delegation in Vienna tells Al Mayadeen there is clear progress in the nuclear talks, and all parties are working on resolving the remaining issues.
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Adviser to the Iranian negotiating delegation in Vienna, Seyed Mohammad Marandi
There is tangible progress in the Vienna talks, but "the West, especially the United States, are hindering the progress," Iranian delegation adviser Seyed Mohammad Marandi told Al Mayadeen on Wednesday.
"All parties to the talks are working on resolving the remaining issues," Marandi clarified, "But we have to see if the United States is ready to make the necessary decisions."
Latest Vienna talks developments
The negotiations - according to the Russians - are going positively, and they are at their final stage, Al Mayadeen Vienna correspondent reported.
"The United States is insisting that the negotiations conclude at the end of February, and the Iranians are racing to reach an agreement, but, at the same time, they are stressing that the deal would not be at the expense of the Iranian demands that entail the removal of all sanctions and a guarantee that Washington adheres to the pact," our correspondent revealed.
CNN sources: US will have to change course if JCPOA not revived
The Biden administration believes it only has until the end of February to revive the JCPOA, thinking it would have to opt-out to aggressively prevent the Islamic Republic from obtaining nuclear weapons, CNN reported, citing three administration officials.
"This session is the critical one," a senior administration official said. "We are genuinely in the very final stretch," the officials reported.
Top Iranian negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani said the negotiations are going successfully, but US State Department spokesperson Ned Price described the progress as "modest", calling on Tehran to negotiate "seriously".
However, the United States had previously underlined that a fresh nuclear deal via the Vienna talks was within reach.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said the propositions that the US will make in Vienna "will determine we can reach an agreement.
Russian permanent representative to Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said the parties have drafted a draft resolution about the revival of the Iranian nuclear deal, and the talks could conclude soon.
