Iran: US has to make decision on reviving nuclear deal

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Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh stated that Tehran is waiting for a response from the US before returning to Vienna for the conclusion of Vienna talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal and the removal of sanctions.

The US blamed for the pause

At his weekly media briefing, Khatibzadeh blamed the US for the pause, noting that Washington must make a political decision before Iranian delegates can return to Vienna.

The top Iranian diplomat told reporters that “we are not at the point, where one can declare an agreement has been struck. There are still some key and outstanding issues that need to be decided in Washington. As soon as the decisions are taken, we will go back to Vienna and reach a final agreement. We are now waiting for a response from the US side. Consultations are underway at various levels.” 

Elsewhere in his remarks, Khatibzadeh added that Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian will head to Moscow on Tuesday to meet with Russian officials.

He stated that Amir-Abdollahian and his counterparts from the remaining parties concerned with the Iran deal are in constant contact.

Khatibzadeh reiterated that the Iranian nation's inalienable and definite rights would define the framework of the Vienna negotiations.

In response to a question about Moscow's request to be exempted from US sanctions in the deal, Khatibzadeh rebuffed Western reports about Russian demands, reiterating that the Vienna talks are intended to ensure the US' credibility to return to the deal.

He also stressed that Biden's administration has chosen to complicate the talks.

Saudi Arabia’s mass execution is “inhumane”

The senior Iranian diplomat said, in reference to the Tehran-Riyadh talks, that "our Iraqi friends have set a date for the fifth round of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia. This date has not yet been finalized. I will announce the date as soon as it is finalized and agreed upon by both parties.”

Khatibzadeh also tersely denounced the mass execution in Saudi Arabia by saying that “this is inhumane and contrary to the axioms of international law, and unfortunately in the days when the whole world is talking about human rights, human rights assemblies are silent and the European Union and the Commissioner for Human Rights are silent."

Iran won’t tolerate threats coming from Iraq

Commenting on the retaliatory missile strike by IRGC on an Israeli Mossad center in Erbil, Khatibzadeh said Iran will not accept that one of its neighbors, with whom it has deep relations, will be the focal point of threat.

He added that Iran has repeatedly called on the Iraqi central government to end such situations and not to allow the Iraqi borders to be abused.

“The United States has conducted military operations against Iran from inside Iraq, and the occupying Zionist has sabotage bases there. What we have announced to the Iraqi government is that the key to friendship is respect for mutual interests and sovereignty. Our warnings were, however, ignored and one of the centers of conspiracy and sabotage was responsibly struck,” Khatibzadeh tersely stated.

It is worth mentioning that Al Mayadeen reported, on Sunday, that a Mossad site on the way to Saladin resort was destroyed by the attack, and enemy collaborators were killed and wounded.