US official: Washington ready for direct negotiations with Iran

By Al Mayadeen Net
Source: Agencies
24 Jan 2022 23:20
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This comes after Iran's Foreign Minister said Iran may consider holding talks with the US for a better nuclear agreement.

A US official was quoted as saying that Washington is ready for urgent, direct negotiations with Iran.

Washington announced Monday it is ready to meet directly with Iran to advance ongoing Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiations, a State Department spokesperson told Sputnik.

AFP quoted a US official as saying that Washington is ready for urgent, direct negotiations with Iran.

Earlier today, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran may consider holding direct talks with the United States if it helps reach a better deal during the Vienna Talks.

"We are prepared to meet directly. We have long held the position that it would be more productive to engage with Iran directly, on both JCPOA negotiations and other issues. This extends to bilateral and multilateral formats," the State Department spokesperson said.

A direct meeting would enable more efficient communication between the US and Iran, which is urgently needed to reach an understanding on a mutual return to JCPOA compliance, he added.

#BREAKING US 'prepared to meet directly' and 'urgently' with Iran: US official pic.twitter.com/vQLKXv8QB1
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 24, 2022

Washington is "sending signals"

This comes as Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian pointed out that Washington is "sending signals" calling for direct talks with Iran.

No direct talks or contacts on the matter are underway as of now, Amir-Abdollahian added.

Talks on the revival of the nuclear deal are currently being held in Vienna.

The seventh round of negotiations was concluded in December 2021 with the adoption of two draft agreements, while the eighth round of talks began on December 27.

In 2018, former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and reimposed sanctions on Iran. Tehran responded with a gradual retreat from its nuclear obligations.

Iran has repeatedly insisted it will not negotiate directly with US President Joe Biden's administration before the lifting of illegal sanctions on the Iranian people.