Iran, Tehran: On Saturday, the European Union and Iran agreed to resume negotiations in Vienna within a few days on a tattered nuclear deal with Tehran’s world powers.
The deal could help ease tensions after negotiations have stagnated for months, but Iran is enriching uranium closer to weapons-grade levels than ever before, as international surveillance diminishes. increase.
At a joint press conference with Iran’s Foreign Minister Josein Amirabdrahian in Tehran, EU foreign policy director Josep Borrell said negotiations would resume shortly.
“The day to come means the day to come, that is, soon, soon,” said Prime Minister Borrell, who unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 and imposed strict economic sanctions on Iran. He added that he should return to the negotiations. Negotiations need to be resumed, which is a decision that must be made in Tehran and Washington, “he said.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused “structural changes” in geopolitics, making it more urgent than ever to reach an agreement that will allow Iran to sell its oil to the global market.
“In such an environment, the conclusion of our groundbreaking agreement is more important than ever,” he said.
Prime Minister Amirabdrahian said his country was ready to resume negotiations. “Efforts to resolve problems and differences … What is important for the Islamic Republic of Iran is the full financial benefit of the 2015 agreement.”
Earlier this month, Iran removed 27 surveillance cameras from the International Atomic Energy Agency of the United Nations, warning that its director could “fatal” the nuclear deal.
Former President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018, and the sanctions he imposed cut off most of Iran’s oil revenues and international financial transactions.
Enrique Mora, the EU coordinator of nuclear negotiations, has visited Tehran several times in recent months to break the deadlock, with no results.
Borrell’s visit shows the growing urgency of Europe to revive the Vienna parley that broke down in March. Expectations for a breakthrough have diminished as Iran rapidly advanced its nuclear program and reduced international surveillance.
