FM: Negotiators bent on safeguarding economic, nuclear interests in Vienna talks

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the negotiators will rigorously observe the country’s red lines during the ongoing talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, which was abandoned by the United States three years after its conclusion.

According to Press TV, addressing a number of Iranian lawmakers on Friday, Amir-Abdollahian added that the country’s right to enjoy the economic benefits of the accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is another important issue that will be observed in the negotiations in the Austrian capital of Vienna.

He also stressed that Iran’s negotiating team pays serious attention to the country’s right to safeguarding its peaceful nuclear capability, technology, and the know-how.

Atmosphere of Vienna talks serious: Russia’s Ulyanov

Russia’s top negotiator to the Vienna talks Mikhail Ulyanov on Friday described the atmosphere of the ongoing negotiations in Vienna as serious and said the time passage would determine the outcome of the talks.

Ulyanov, who serves as Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, told IRNA before a meeting with his Iranian counterpart that the situation is not completely clear but apparently, all parties are reaching a consensus on the final text.

He added that it may not be very easy to reach the finish line “and time will tell if we succeed or not.”

In a post on his Twitter account, Ulyanov said he held “productive” talks with the Iranian negotiating team, led by Bagheri Kani, who serves as the country’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs.

“Yet another productive meeting with the Iranian counterparts at the #ViennaTalks on the #JCPOA,” the senior Russian diplomat tweeted.

China says firmly committed to upholding JCPOA

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Thursday that Beijing welcomes the resumption of the talks in Vienna as it has always been firmly committed to upholding the multilateral deal.

“This is a result of concerted efforts of all parties and is consistent with the expectation of the international community,” Hua said, addressing a regular press conference.

She added that the resumption of the talks would be a new opportunity to “seek a political and diplomatic solution” to the Iranian nuclear issue.

The Chinese diplomat emphasized that the US has created the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program and it needs to “fully rectify its mistake and respond actively to the reasonable concerns of Iran for the negotiations to produce early results.”

The spokeswoman noted that her country has been in close touch with all sides and played an active role in advancing the negotiations.

SS