Iran slams 'new' US demands in Vienna talks, says ready for 'good, lasting' agreement

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has criticized the United States for raising "new" issues in the course of the talks between Tehran and the P4+1 group of countries in the Austrian capital of Vienna, expressing the Islamic Republic's readiness to reach a "good and lasting" agreement with the five powers.

In a phone conversation on Saturday, Amir-Abdollahian and Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani discussed the latest bilateral, regional and international developments, particularly the Vienna negotiations between Iran and the five remaining parties to the 2015 deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on a possible revival of the agreement.   

The Iranian foreign minister added that Tehran is making serious efforts to reach a "good, strong and lasting" agreement with the P4+1 group of countries.  

Iran and the P4+1 group of countries on Friday announced a pause in the Vienna talks, with Tehran saying that all relevant parties will concentrate on a “successful conclusion” of the diplomatic process.

Iran, P4+1 announce pause in Vienna talks on JCPOA revival

Iran and the P4+1 temporary halt talks in Vienna on a possible revival of the JCPOA at the EU foreign policy chief request.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Twitter that the pause in the Vienna talks could provide a “momentum” for resolving any remaining issues and a “final return” to the negotiations, adding, “Successful conclusion of talks will be the main focus of all [the parties involved].”

The US unilaterally left the 2015 Iran deal in 2018, and restored the sanctions that had been lifted under the accord. Washington’s European allies in the deal—France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—have been toeing the sanctions line closely by ending their trade activities with Iran.

The Vienna talks began last April between Iran and the remaining parties to the JCPOA —Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China — on the assumption that the US, under the Biden administration, is willing to repeal the so-called maximum pressure policy pursued by former president, Donald Trump, against Tehran.

Iran says it won’t settle for anything less than the removal of all US sanctions in a verifiable manner. It also wants guarantees that Washington would not abandon the agreement again.

The Qatari foreign minister, for his part, highlighted the significance of Tehran-Doha ties and said a recent visit by Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi to Qatar resulted in positive outcomes.

He added that Iran and all parties involved in the Vienna talks are making major efforts to reach an important agreement.

The top Iranian and Qatari diplomat urged the implementation of the agreements reached between the two countries during President Raeisi's visit.

Raeisi in Qatar: Iran sticks up for friends, lines up deals

President Ebrahim Raeisi has hailed the resistance of Iran and Venezuela against the Western domination and imperialism, saying the most valuable asset of the two countries is their people who have decided to withstand the hegemonic powers’ excessive demands.

Raeisi made an official visit to Qatar last month. Earlier, Qatar and Iran signed 14 memoranda of understanding in the fields of aviation, trade, shipping, media, cancellation of visa requirements, electricity, standards, education and culture.

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