Iran to enter Vienna talks with 'serious will' concerning sanction removal

Iran's top negotiator speaks of the country's "serious will and strong preparation" on the eve of talks that are aimed at examining the prospect of removal of the United States' sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

"The makeup of the Islamic Republic's negotiating delegation reflects this resolve and seriousness for taking serious steps towards removal of the Americans' sanctions against the Iranian people," Ali Baqeri-Kani told IRNA on Monday.

According to Press TV, he said "The issue of removal of the sanctions form the focus and principle priority of this round of the talks," calling the bans "illegal and oppressive."

The US returned the sanctions in 2018 after leaving a historic nuclear agreement between Iran and others that had eliminated the coercive measures.

US President Joe Biden has alleged a willingness to re-enter Washington into the deal and lift the measures again. His administration has, however, not taken any meaningful steps towards the purpose, and even imposed new sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Tehran has repeatedly lambasted Biden's team for keeping up the "maximum pressure" campaign of his predecessor Donald Trump.

Six rounds of talks have been held in Vienna to test the US's self-proclaimed intention to lift the bans. The Austrian capital is to start hosting another round later in the day.

Earlier, Baqeri-Kani held consultations with the Russian and Chinese delegations to the negotiations, which he hailed as "fruitful."

The diplomat has also sat down with Enrique Mora,Deputy Foreign Policy Chief of the European Union, which coordinated the talks that led to conclusion of the nuclear agreement in 2015.

ME