President Raeisi: Deal on JCPOA revival still possible if West acts wisely

President Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi has once again blamed the West for the stalemate in talks on the revival of 2015 deal, saying, however, that Iran and the P4+1 group of countries can still reach a final agreement if the opposite side acts wisely.

“The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is logical and rational and it is obvious that if the opposite side also acts logically and rationally, the negotiations can yield result,” Raeisi said on Tuesday.

He added that a firm determination on the part of the opposite side is the key to success in the diplomatic process on a revitalization of the multilateral accord, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“The Islamic Republic of Iran never left the negotiating table. It was the Westerners who created a crisis in the midst of the talks by adopting a resolution at the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” Raeisi pointed out.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that reaching an agreement [on the JCPOA revival] hinges on the full resolution of safeguard issues and the provision of necessary guarantees, including continued adherence of the parties to the agreement and fulfillment of the economic interests of the Iranian nation," the chief executive pointed out.

Elsewhere in his Tuesday address, Raeisi elaborated on his administration's achievements in the diplomatic arena over the past year, saying promotion of the neighborly policy is a main principle in Iran's diplomacy.

The president added that the country has taken steps to bolster relations with its neighbors and increased the value of trade exchanges with them.

SS