Talks between Iran and world powers over the fate of its nuclear deal have been suspended due to “external factors”, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Friday.
The announcement comes as talks were held in Vienna and the head of the UN nuclear watchdog had visited Tehran. It represents the latest attempt to revive the 2015 nuclear deal since US President Joe Biden resumed negotiations in the United States after Donald Trump’s predecessor withdrew Washington from the deal and re-imposed sanctions on Tehran in 2018.
Borrell did not specify what those factors were, but last week Russia sought assurances that Western sanctions related to the invasion of Ukraine would not hamper economic and military relations between Tehran and Moscow.
Such an idea has been rejected by the US and European countries by the agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Western nations, including Germany, France and the United Kingdom, say Russia’s economic and military ties have nothing to do with the resumption of the 2015 nuclear deal. China’s position on Russia’s position is unknown.
‘The final text is ready’
“There is a need for a pause in the Vienna talks due to external factors,” Borel wrote on Twitter. “A final text is essentially ready at the table. As coordinator, I will continue, with my team, to keep in touch with all participants and the US to overcome the current situation and conclude the agreement.”
Responding to Borrell’s tweet, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the pause would not reduce the purpose of the talks.
“The successful completion of the talks will be the main focus of all,” Khatibzadeh said on Twitter. “No external factor will affect our common will to proceed to a collective agreement.”
If the 2015 agreement is repeated, Washington will lift its sanctions on Tehran. In return, the Islamic Republic would again severely curtail its nuclear program in order to prevent the development of nuclear weapons.
jsi / jcg (AFP, Reuters, dpa, AP)
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