Germany urges swift restoration of Iran nuclear deal

Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) – Germany on Wednesday called for a quick revival of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement as Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani started his talks with the German side in Berlin.

"The aim of the Vienna talks, as we have repeatedly made it clear, is to restore the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) as soon as possible," Andrea Sasse, deputy spokeswoman for the German Foreign Ministry, told journalists in Berlin.

She reiterated the need for "a full return to the JCPOA" by Tehran while the hardline Iranian government has repeated demands that the US lift all the sanctions it has imposed since then-President Donald Trump abandoned the deal three years ago.

The JCPOA, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, is a 2015 agreement signed by Iran and the five world powers: the US, Russia, China, France, Great Britain plus Germany.

Iran and the EU last week announced Nov. 29 as the date to resume talks in Vienna that had been stalled, ending months of uncertainty.

Sasse said Berlin welcomed Tehran's return to the Vienna talks but urged Iran to adopt a "constructive stance" during negotiations.

"The aim of the negotiations in Vienna is to conclude them swiftly," Sasse said.

Berlin has repeatedly warned time is running out for diplomatic efforts to revive the nuclear deal.

Delegations from the Iran deal signatories -- the UK, France, Germany, Russia, and China -- launched diplomatic efforts in April to bring Tehran and Washington back into its fold.

After the June 18 election victory of hardline Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the negotiations in Vienna were suspended.

In the talks, Iran demands that all Western sanctions be lifted, while its interlocutors seek to reinstate controls on Tehran's nuclear program.