Rejecting threats, Tehran urges US to focus on Plan A in Vienna talks

As the remaining parties to the Iran nuclear agreement prepare to continue negotiations in the Austrian capital to revive the deal, Tehran has dismissed Washington’s attempts to set a deadline for the Vienna negotiations to bear fruit, calling it "fabricated".

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the US would better focus on its Plan A rather than threatening Iran with a Plan B.

Days earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said there were only “a few weeks left” to save the 2015 deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

“We’re very, very short on time,” because “Iran is getting closer and closer to the point where they could produce on very, very short order enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon,” Blinken claimed.

He added that the US is “looking at other steps, other options” – often seen as a military threat – with allies including in Europe and the Middle East.

In response, Khatibzadeh said a Plan B is “not appealing for any country.”

“Blinken knows better than anyone that every country has a B Plan for itself and that Iran’s Plan B may not be very appealing to them. They need to make every effort to show that they have the necessary will and capacity for a Plan A,” he remarked.

Vienna talks: Working group discusses removal of anti-Iran sanctions

A working group of experts from Iran and the remaining parties to the 2015 deal is discussing the removal of sanctions against Tehran in Vienna.

Ideas turn into written words

Iran and the remaining parties to the JCPOA – Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany – have been holding talks in Vienna since April last year. Iran says it pursues the removal of all sanctions that the United States re-imposed on Iran following its withdrawal from the deal.

Under former US president Donald Trump, the US unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and imposed draconian sanctions primarily targeting the Iranian economy.

On Friday evening, the eighth round of the talks was paused so that the diplomats could return to their respective capitals for consultations. However, the working groups on sanctions removal and sequencing the implementation of a probable agreement continued to work on draft texts on Sunday.

The diplomats are expected to return to Vienna later on Monday.

Khatibzadeh said that in the draft texts, “many of the tables and columns are ready and some of the parentheses were omitted,” adding that the negotiators have reached agreements on most ideas, which are currently being turned into written words.

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The eighth round of Vienna negotiations continues as sources close to the talks say the Iranian team rejects an interim deal.

Lasting agreement shaping up

What remains, Khatibzadeh explained, are key issues that require specific political decisions. “Washington needs to announce its decisions on the remaining issues,” he stated.

“If this happens, we will be heading toward a lasting agreement at a good pace,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman added.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman also urged the United States to stop what he termed as its “bullying behavior” and fulfill its international obligations instead.

“Significant disagreements remain in Vienna, and the most important one is the insufficient speed of the other sides, especially the United States,” Khatibzadeh said.

He added that great progress has also been made “on technical issues, but on the issue of sanctions removal, talks have been subject to political decisions that have been delayed on the other side.”

Iran, Russia reaffirm determination to restore nuclear deal in its original version

The foreign ministers of Iran and Russia reaffirm their respective countries’ commitment to the restoration of the 2015 nuclear deal in its original version.

President Raeisi’s Russia visit

Elsewhere during his Monday presser, Khatibzadeh touched upon President Ebrahim Raeisi’s upcoming visit to Russia, saying the trip will be of great importance and in line with his administration’s balanced foreign policy.

He noted that Raeisi will confer with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on political, economic, and social topics.

State-owned Russian television channel Russia-1 reported on Sunday that Putin will host his Iranian counterpart for talks in Moscow next week as Russia tries to help in Vienna talks to remove US sanctions against Tehran.

The network, however, did not disclose the time of the meeting nor the issues they would discuss.

Iran FM: Partnership deal with China ‘win-win’ for both nations

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says a 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed with China will be a “win-win” as it serves the interests of both sides.

Iran-China strategic partnership agreement

Khatibzadeh also referred to the 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed with China, stating it seeks to draw a roadmap for long-term cooperation between Tehran and Beijing.

“Expansion of relations requires a strategic partnership between the two countries. The agreement required implementation of various clauses regarding economic, political, cultural, parliamentary, judicial, and other issues,” he added.

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