Vienna talks underway: Iran’s top negotiator meets EU, Russian representatives

The eighth round of talks on removing anti-Iran sanctions is underway in the Austrian capital of Vienna, with the Islamic Republic’s top negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani having met European Union deputy foreign policy chief Enrique Mora to discuss draft texts on guarantees and verification of the removal of the entire US bans.

Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported on Thursday that Bagheri Kani had arrived at the Palais Coburg in Vienna and held a meeting with Mora, who is in charge of coordinating sessions attended by delegates of the P4+1 group of countries — Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany.

The talks on sanctions removal and draft texts began with a meeting between Iran's chief negotiator and the EU representative Enrique Mora, who is also European Union's deputy foreign policy chief, followed by bilateral and multilateral meetings.

Bagheri Kani also met with Russia's top negotiator to the Vienna talks, Mikhail Ulyanov, who later confirmed it in a tweet and said, “The #ViennaTalks are underway. A meeting with the Head of delegation of #Iran Mr. A. Bagheri Kani.”

‘Talks already at an advanced stage’

In a separate tweet on Thursday, Ulyanov responded to allegations made by Bloomberg that he had estimated it would take more time to reach an agreement than he previously thought possible.

“A few important words were missed by Bloomberg. I said; if the #ViennaTalks continue at the current pace… I don’t rule out that the negotiations can be expedited through joint efforts of all participants. The talks are already at an advanced stage," he said. 

The eighth round of talks between Tehran and the remaining signatories to the 2015 Iran deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is focused on the removal of anti-Iran sanctions.

Iran has already ruled out the possibility of direct talks with the US, saying it might reconsider that position only if a good agreement is within reach to restore the landmark deal.

MG