US DOS: Iran nuclear program progress 'concerning'

By Al Mayadeen Net
Source: Agencies
5 Jul 2022 23:01

Questionable demands, unrealistic expectations, and pedestals always pouring in from the US side.

United States Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price

After the EU-mediated talks made no progress, on Tuesday, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price expressed concern at a press briefing that Iran's nuclear program has made progress in a "wholly concerning way," and that it has "galloped forward in ways that are wholly concerning to us."

He also conveyed that Washington is disappointed that no progress was made in the revival of the JCPOA in the latest round of talks in Doha, Qatar.

"We were disappointed that Iran, yet again, failed to respond positively to the EU's initiative, and no progress was made," Price claimed during the press briefing.

According to Price, Iran has repeatedly introduced "extraneous" demands that go beyond the framework of the 2015 nuclear deal, blaming the failure of the talks on Tehran and the Iranians' "lack of seriousness."

Marandi: The West compellingly retracted some of its positions

In a press interview on Saturday, Marandi said Iran demanded throughout the negotiations that took place in Vienna to be granted tangible guarantees, rejecting the Western rhetoric that these guarantees go beyond the nuclear agreement.

Marandi explained that the Americans and Europeans were forced to gradually accept the Iranian demands, explaining that the tangible guarantees that Iran is now demanding are meant for the continuation of the nuclear agreement and do not fall outside the scope of the agreement.

Indirect nuclear talks between US, Iran fruitless

The talks have concluded in Doha without much progress due to Washington's "insistence on its positions that do not take into account Iranian interests," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanani said, stressing that "during negotiations yesterday and today, Iran reiterated that a firm agreement was reached."

The American side kept insisting on its text in the 7th round of talks in Vienna, which blocked Iran from enjoying the economic benefits of the agreement.

"Due to the weakness of the Biden administration and its inability to make a final decision, the Doha meeting did not have a significant impact on the progress of negotiations," informed sources said, noting that the US is seeking to revive the nuclear agreement only to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities.