Iran's right to move ahead with its nuclear research and development activities should be protected in case the negotiating parties in Vienna reach an agreement.

Iran and major world powers, namely Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, are holding talks in the Austrian capital with the hope of reviving the Iran nuclear deal.

Tehran had abandoned the deal when the United States withdrew from it in 2018 under former President Donald Trump, who then proceeded to impose harsh sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

"Iran's legal right to continue research and development and to maintain its peaceful nuclear capabilities and achievements, along with its security against supported evils, cannot be restricted by any agreement," the top security official tweeted Saturday. 

#Iran's legal right to continue research and development and to maintain its peaceful nuclear capabilities and achievements, along with its security against supported evils, cannot be restricted by any agreement.

— علی شمخانی (@alishamkhani_ir) February 5, 2022

He had said in late January the way of interaction with the US would change "only if a good agreement" was possible.

"Despite limited progress in the #ViennaTalks, we are still far from achieving the necessary balance in the commitments of the parties. Political decisions in #Washington are requirements for balance of commitments to reach a good agreement." Shamkhani tweeted. 

Despite limited progress in the #ViennaTalks, we are still far from achieving the necessary balance in the commitments of the parties. Political decisions in #Washington are requirements for balance of commitments to reach a good agreement.

— علی شمخانی (@alishamkhani_ir) February 6, 2022

Iran has been denying holding talks with the United States, seeing as it was behind the collapse of the deal to begin with.

The official's latest tweet came as the parties to the talks are preparing for their resumption following a one-week hiatus.

The heads of the member states' delegations are planning to return to Vienna soon, and, ahead of their return, Iran's chief negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani briefed the members of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee on the latest developments.

Following the briefing, committee spokesperson Mahmoud Abbaszadeh Meshkini said the time was ripe for reaching a "good and win-win deal," as long as the West shows seriousness and goodwill.

Iran has long been in support of reaching an agreement as it wants the removal of sanctions imposed on it, and that was reaffirmed during Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian's call with his Australian counterpart Marise Payne when he stressed that his country welcomed and emphasized the achievement of a good agreement.