Nuclear talks proceeding on positive, forward-looking track: Iran

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Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said Sunday the nuclear negotiations are moving forward on a positive track.

Kanaani pointed out that most of the issues related to the nuclear deal have been resolved, except for the remaining ones that are related to lifting sanctions, which are sensitive, important, and decisive.

The Spokesperson indicated that Tehran could not specify a timeframe for responding to the US proposals regarding the nuclear agreement and that it will respond to the proposals after studying them, considering that the nuclear negotiations are proceeding positively and in a forward-looking manner.

The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the implementation of the agreement should be formed and carried out bilaterally and that all members of the agreement must abide by their obligations, Kanaani underscored.

The Iranian official hoped that Washington will act rationally and take the political decision in a way that guarantees the Islamic Republic's legitimate interests and demands.

Terming negotiations as a two-way path, Kanaani highlighted that one negotiation would only last if the members and parties to the agreement are fulfilling their responsibilities and obligations.

He concluded by affirming that Tehran will abide by an agreement that guarantees its basic interests and will not retreat from its red lines in the negotiations.

A couple of days ago, Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), stressed that Tehran's approach in negotiations with the world powers entails the complete removal of all sanctions imposed by Washington and emphasized the Iranian negotiating team's firm stance on the country's red lines.

Read more: Sanctions removal talks in final stages: Iran FM

Earlier, Nour News reported that Iran said the discussions between the US and the EU about a plan to resurrect the nuclear agreement would continue into the following month.

According to a tweet from the agency, Iran would take "at least" until September 2 to reply to the Biden administration's criticism of the latest EU draft that aims to save the 2015 agreement.

The agency reported that Tehran is still "seriously reviewing the US response at an expert level."

The EU's proposed document is viewed as the culmination of nearly 18 months of work to revive a pact that former US President Donald Trump pulled out of four years ago.

According to the original accord, Iran's economy and vital oil shipments were to be less sanctioned in return for restricting the country's atomic operations.

It is noteworthy that Seyyed Mohammed Marandi, chief advisor to the Iranian negotiating team in the Vienna talks, told Al Mayadeen on Wednesday that the US is not negotiating from a position of strength.

Marandi underlined that Washington has been unable to "seal the deal" with Tehran due to the heavy opposition from its allies and other parties, noting that this prompted a lot of disinformation regarding the nuclear talks between Iran and major world powers.

"For example, one of the claims that we've been hearing over the last few days is that the Iranians have agreed to relinquish the case of removing the (Islamic Revolution) Guards from the US foreign terrorist organization list. But as you know [...] the removal of the [IRGC] from the US foreign terrorist organization [list]... has never been a precondition," Marandi said.