Iran says responded to EU plan to revive JCPOA, awaiting US response

Iran says the United States is dragging its feet in indirect talks in Vienna aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal and removal of sanctions against Tehran.

Tehran has responded to a draft agreement proposed by the European Union, but is still awaiting Washington's response, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kan’ani said Monday.

“Iran has participated seriously, constructively and responsibly in the negotiations, responded to the proposals of the European side in a timely manner, acted innovatively and showed the necessary flexibility for the conclusion of an agreement," Kan’ani said during a press conference.

According to Press TV, he added “But what matters now is the procrastination of the American side in providing an answer. The US government is responsible for the JCPOA (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) status quo and non-implementation of the accord. We can move to the next stage in case the US government shows serious willpower and acts responsibly in its promises and actions.”

“We can talk about the success of this phase of negotiations when the European side announces that it has received the response from Americans,” the Iranian diplomat noted.

He described the talks on the removal of sanctions against Iran and salvage of the JCPOA as “sensitive,” emphasizing that the talks have so far achieved relatively good progress.

“The negotiations are comprehensive, and agreement must be reached on all relevant issues. We cannot speak of reaching an accord, moving forward or welcoming the next stage unless all the issues have been sorted out,” Kan’ani highlighted.

He said “Iran's top officials have repeatedly announced that we will not tie the nation's livelihood and the country's economy to the negotiations."

"We regard sanctions removal talks as one of the issues in the field of foreign policy. We emphasize that America's delay in providing an answer, the inaction of the European side, the internal issues of the US administration, and pressure from extremists and Zionist lobby groups inside the United States will not stop Iran from pursuing its own priorities.”

He said that the US and the European sides are in a much greater need of an agreement than Iran, underscoring that the Iranian negotiating team has shown complete seriousness, expressed it desire and practically proven that it is looking for an agreement.

“They (Iranian negotiators) will stand up for the legitimate interests of the government and the nation and will not flout the red lines. We are looking for a good, strong and lasting agreement,” Kan’ani said.

The United States, under former President Donald Trump, left the JCPOA in 2018 and returned the sanctions that the agreement had lifted.

ME