The US warned on Sunday that time was "running out" for a nuclear deal with Iran, stressing that the US administration policy is "straightforward," and determined to prevent Tehran from 'obtaining a nuclear weapon' despite Iran explicitly assuring that its nuclear program is strictly intended for peaceful civilian purposes.

In an interview with CBS, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said he visited "Israel" late last month to coordinate with "Tel Aviv" in the event that diplomacy with Iran was unsuccessful, stressing that " time is running short."

Sullivan emphasized that the US believes diplomacy is the best way to go forward.

According to "Israel Hayom", Sullivan divulged to Israeli occupation leaders that the US had a sanction plan for Iran, in case the negotiations in Vienna failed. The adviser told Israeli officials that the Biden administration would impose sanctions on the export of Iranian oil, indicating that sanctions would include senior Iranian leaders and would include resolutions condemning Tehran in the Security Council of the UN.

Yesterday, Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister Rasoul Mousavi warned against attempts to sabotage the Vienna negotiations.

Mousavi warned those who are trying to sabotage the efforts of the negotiating team by spreading "garbage" in the stoves cooking the agreements to darken the atmosphere.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Friday a renewed deal with Iran on its nuclear program was still "possible" as the Vienna talks advance in a "better atmosphere."

"We're arriving at the end of a long process... there's a better atmosphere since Christmas - Before Christmas, I was very pessimistic. Today I believe reaching an accord is possible," he said following an EU meeting at the ministerial level.

Blinken: A deal with Iran will be better for Washington's security

US State Secretary Antony Blinken commented on ongoing talks to revive the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, saying that there are still a few weeks left "to see if we can get back to mutual compliance", in an interview with US public radio station NPR.

The US had withdrawn from the deal under the previous administration of Donald Trump. The current talks are about whether the United States can give guarantees that it will abide by the deal this time around. 

The Vienna talks restarted in early January, with Iranian delegate Ali Bagheri Kani arriving in Vienna on January 3.