Iran says US ‘maximum pressure’ policy must end for deal in Vienna

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN (AA) – Iran on Monday said it is seriously pushing for an end to sanctions in the Vienna talks, urging the Biden administration to abandon the previous government’s “maximum pressure” policy toward Tehran.

At a weekly press conference in Tehran on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Biden’s team must do away with all elements and components of the Trump administration’s policy to reach a deal in Vienna.

The eighth round of talks between Iran and world powers in the Austrian capital to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal was indefinitely suspended last month over key sticking points between Tehran and Washington.

The two sides have so far failed to resolve outstanding issues needed for a final deal.

Khatibzadeh said what was being discussed in Vienna was in line with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, adding that it will not change.

He accused Washington of “persistent delays” in responding to Iran’s demands in the marathon talks, adding that Tehran has already clarified the “remaining issues” to Washington.

“Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed,” the spokesman said.

“Once the remaining issues are over, we can talk about an agreement in Vienna.”

He said Tehran and Washington have exchanged messages through Enrique Mora, the European Union’s coordinator for the Vienna talks, but the messages received from the US have failed to meet expectations.

Khatibzadeh praised Mora for his “excellent” role in the Vienna talks and said all parties are trying to pave the way for the US’ “honest” return to the landmark deal abandoned by then-President Donald Trump in May 2018.

He said the removal of sanctions is a key issue for the Foreign Ministry.

In other remarks, the spokesman said the unblocking of Iran’s frozen assets in South Korea was not related to the US, saying a regional delegation visited Tehran last week to finalize it.

“There is absolutely no relationship between the unfreezing of Iran’s frozen assets with the Iran-US prisoner swap,” he said, refuting reports that three Iranian-Americans would be released in return.