Marandi on Vienna talks: Main obstacle is US refusal to lift sanctions
Adviser to the Iranian negotiating delegation in Vienna tells Al Mayadeen that the Europeans and the Americans want to hide the fact that they do not want to lift the sanctions on Iran.
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The adviser to the Iranian negotiating delegation in Vienna, Mohammad Marandi
The adviser to the Iranian negotiating delegation in Vienna, Mohammad Marandi, confirmed Friday that the US refuses so far to lift all sanctions imposed on Iran.
In an interview for Al Mayadeen, Marandi indicated that the American response to Iranian demands was delayed, noting that the hijacking of Iranian oil tankers is considered unacceptable to Iran.
He also revealed that there are problems between Moscow and Washington, explaining that the main obstacle is the American refusal to lift all sanctions imposed.
Marandi added that the guarantees requested by Russia are directed to the United States and the West, not to Iran.
Marandi: There are problems between Moscow and Washington, but the main obstacle is the US refusal to lift all sanctions.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 11, 2022
The Iranian diplomat noted that Western countries were not constructive and positive during the Vienna talks and were deliberately delaying and procrastinating progress in order to deceive Iran.
He mentioned that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is stricter than former President Hassan Rouhani on Iran's demands in the Vienna negotiations.
Marandi affirmed that Tehran is not demanding more than what was previously agreed upon, adding that the western side has become urgent to complete the nuclear agreement with Iran after the Ukraine crisis.
The adviser to the Iranian negotiating delegation in Vienna accused the Europeans and the Americans of wanting to hide the fact that they do not want to lift sanctions and give guarantees, noting that there is no specific date for the return of nuclear negotiations in Vienna.
Marandi: The guarantees requested by Russia are directed to the United States and the West, not to Iran.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 11, 2022
In a previous interview for Al Mayadeen, Marandi underlined that "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."
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stressed Thursday that Tehran will not retrieve any of its red lines in the Vienna Talks.
During a ceremony to renew the covenant of the Islamic revolution's principles, Raisi said the government is actively seeking, in the Vienna Talks, to lift the sanctions imposed on Iran.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh tweeted that the “Pause in the Vienna talks could be a momentum for resolving any remaining issue and a final return."
Pause in #ViennaTalks could be a momentum for resolving any remaining issue and a final return.
— Saeed Khatibzadeh | سعید خطیبزاده (@SKhatibzadeh) March 11, 2022
Successful conclusion of talks will be the main focus of all.
No external factor will affect our joint will to go forward for a collective agreement. https://t.co/pAb0lzGjhd
Khatibzadeh stressed that "No external factor will affect our joint to go forward for a collective agreement."
