Iran Warns of Response to US’ Unconstructive Approach in JCPOA Talks
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Reaffirming Iran’s support for logical and result-oriented talks for reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian warned the US that the continuation of its unconstructive measures will draw Tehran’s proportionate response.
In a telephone conversation on Saturday, Amirabdollahian and EU Foreign Policy Chief Josef Borrell talked about the latest developments in the Vienna negotiations for saving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and removing the sanctions on Tehran.
The Iranian foreign minister thanked Borrell for his efforts to forge a deal in Vienna and criticized the US over its unconstructive and hasty moves to get a resolution approved at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors.
In response to a request for the continuation of talks, Amirabdollahian said Iran has always welcomed logical and result-based talks, but it is necessary that the other side quit adopting double standards and contradictory behavior in order to reach a good and lasting deal.
“After the approval of the resolution at the Board of Governors, we showed that we would not retreat from the rights of the (Iranian) people and if the US wants to continue behaving unconstructively, it will be met with an appropriate response from our side,” he added, the Foreign Ministry’s website reported.
The top Iranian diplomat added that Tehran still believes that diplomacy is the best and most proper path and solution to the issue.
Iran has never stayed away from the negotiating table, and for this reason, it has always put forth important initiatives to reach a favorable deal, but the negotiations must bear fruit, he stated.
The EU foreign policy chief, for his part, said he is willing to continue playing a positive role in forging a final deal.
He underlined that the only way out of the current situation is the pursuit of diplomacy and avoiding unconstructive actions.
The EU foreign policy chief admitted that Iran is constructively determined to reach a good and lasting deal, saying, “We are not far from a deal in Vienna and time is now to resume the talks swiftly and to make an effort to prevent an escalation.”
“I am ready to make necessary efforts to pave the way for a deal that would be agreed upon by all sides,” Borrel added.
Since April 2021, several rounds of talks between Iran and the five remaining parties to the JCPOA -- Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia -- have been held in the Austrian capital to bring the US back into the Iran deal. The Vienna talks, however, exclude American diplomats due to their country’s withdrawal from the deal.
