Iran, EU agree to resume nuclear talks in 'physical format' from November 29 in Vienna

Iran and European Union have agreed to resume nuclear talks on 29 November in Vienna. In a statement issue on Wednesday, 3 November, EU’s European External Action Service said that Joint Commission of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will convene in a “physical format” at end of this month in Vienna. statement ded that talks will be chaired by Enrique Mora on behalf of EU foreign policy chief Josip Borrell. 

talks “will be attended by representatives of China, France, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom and Iran. Participants will continue discussions on prospect of a possible return of United States to JCPOA and how to ensure full and effective implementation of agreement by all sides,” statement re. 

Separately, Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri, who is also Tehran’s le negotiator, confirmed date for resumption of talks. Taking to Twitter, Bagheri said that  29 November date h been set in a phone call with Mora. Meanwhile, according to Times of Israel, US, in reaction to latest development, said that a deal is possible quickly if Iran is “serious” in Vienna talks. 

2015 nuclear deal 

Vienna has been hosting talks aimed at reviving Iran nuclear agreement since April. However, negotiations have hit a delock as Iran has insisted that its nuclear steps are reversible if Washington lifts all sanctions. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi even said that Tehran is after “goal-oriented” talks with West and noted that his country “never left” negotiation grounds. “Lifting sanctions is an indication of seriousness of or party,” Raisi h said in a brocast on state-run TV, as per AP.

Raisi also ded Iran “is serious in this issue, we should see seriousness in or party” as well. Due to signing of 2015 nuclear deal, Iran drastically reduced enrichment of uranium in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. However, deal signed during former US President Barack Obama ministration did not last for too long as his successor Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on Islamic Republic. Trump’s 2018 move resulted in an increase in tensions in Middle East with Tehran breaching its limits on uranium enrichment set under deal. It is to mention that Iran is presently enriching brief amounts of uranium at closest-ever levels to weapons-gre purity. Meanwhile, its stockpile reportedly continues to develop. 

(Image: AP)