Tehran also refused to directly confirm reported negotiations with Saudi Arabia aimed at mending diplomatic ties, which have been cut off since the execution of prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr in the kingdom and subsequent attacks on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh has shared information on the ongoing talks by the Joint Committee of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, also known as the Iran nuclear deal) in Vienna, saying that the negotiations are currently dealing with the technical details of the US return to compliance and lifting sanctions against Tehran. He also noted that although some progress has been made, not all disputes have yet been resolved between the parties.
The spokesperson added that the negotiations in Vienna would go smoother if Washington abandoned “Trump's failed legacy” and just agreed to fulfill its commitments under the JCPOA.
Iran's Return to the Nuclear Deal
Commenting on Iran's own non-compliance with the nuclear accord, Khatibzadeh stressed the recent decision to ramp up uranium enrichment to 60% (compared to the 3.66% allowed under the JCPOA) was a direct result of a “terrorist act on Iranian soil”, presumably referring to an explosion at the Natanz nuclear plant that downed the facility's power grid.
The Foreign Ministry's spokesman further assured that Tehran will start complying with the provisions of the nuclear deal once it receives verification of Washington's return to…
