Nuclear talks with US to resume 'soon,' Iranian foreign minister says

• Author: LAHAV HARKOV
• Published date: 06 October 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Amirabdollahian said that "the process of reviewing Vienna talks is nearing completion and the talks will resume soon.

"Until Iran returns to the negotiating table, the other parties must also make new decisions and show their will and intention for the success of the talks and fulfilling their commitments," he added.

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Earlier, Amirabdollahian told the head of Iranian foundations in Moscow that a return to the nuclear deal could bolster Iran's economy, "if we achieve tangible achievements in securing the rights of the Iranian people," Iranian Mehr News Agency reported.

"If the negotiation process, like the previous eight years, is going to continue in the same direction, that is, negotiations for negotiations, the Islamic Republic of Iran will take the appropriate decision," he stated.

Lavrov spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken shortly before his meeting with Amirabdollahian, at Blinken's initiative, according to the Russian readout of the call.

"The sides exchanged views on the prospects for restoring the full implementation of the JCPOA for the Iranian nuclear program's settlement, and also addressed a number of relevant issues on the bilateral agenda," the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.

Lavrov called the meeting with Amirabdollahian "very timely," adding that "the focus of today's negotiations will be the need for a full renewal of the Iranian nuclear program agreement, without any exemptions or additions. We would like to discuss how this process can be expedited."

The Lavrov-Amirabdollahian meeting in Moscow took place four months after Iran walked away from indirect negotiations with the US in Vienna designed to return to the JCPOA, which restricted the Islamic Republic's enrichment of uranium enrichment until 2030, in exchange for lifting sanctions. Iran said it would have to wait until after its election, which took place in June, and the formation of a new government to continue talks.

The US left the JCPOA in 2018, citing continued malign behavior by Iran in the region, and implementing a "maximum pressure" sanctions regime. The Biden administration seeks to roll back its predecessor's policy and return to the JCPOA, before opening further...