Iranian FM: Strong nuclear agreement is in process

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Sep 2022 23:25

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian calls on the US to avoid using ambiguous language in its proposed text on how to resurrect the 2015 nuclear deal.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian meets his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi (File photo: ISNA)

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on Thursday that Iran is still working on a good, strong, and sustainable agreement, but stressed that America should avoid using vague language in the agreement's final draft.

According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, he discussed bilateral cooperation as well as the situation surrounding negotiations on the restoration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.

"Iranian Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi exchanged views on bilateral, regional, and international issues, as well as negotiations on the restoration of the nuclear deal [JCPOA] and the lifting of sanctions against Tehran," the Ministry said on Telegram.

The US should avoid ambiguities in the draft agreement in order to restart the nuclear deal as soon as possible, according to Amir-Abdollahian.

The ministers also discussed the implementation of a comprehensive program of strategic cooperation between Iran and China, according to the statement.

Iran signed the JCPOA in 2015, with the P5+1 group of countries (the United States, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom - plus Germany) and the European Union.

It required Iran to reduce its nuclear program and significantly reduce its uranium reserves in exchange for sanctions relief, including the lifting of the arms embargo five years after the agreement was signed.

The #JCPOA was an agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 (5 permanent UNSC members + Ger.), whereby #Iran would decrease uranium enrichment & allow IAEA monitoring of its nuclear facilities in exchange for economic & trade incentives & removal of sanctions.#ViennaTalks pic.twitter.com/H0tDP62DbC
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The United States abandoned its conciliatory stance toward Iran in 2018, withdrawing from the JCPOA and implementing draconian sanctions against Tehran, prompting Iran to largely abandon its obligations under the agreement.

Last year, JCPOA parties agreed on two drafts of a new agreement, but no final agreement has been reached. Since then, the parties have held several rounds of talks in an attempt to resurrect the agreement.