TEHRAN -- Iran is seeking the closure of the UN nuclear agency’s investigation of its activities based on baseless information supplied by its enemies among other guarantees, in order to revive the country’s 2015 nuclear deal, a senior Iranian official said on Monday.
“Closure of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) probes is a must to have a sustainable nuclear deal,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani told a televised news conference.
Last week, Iran sent its latest response to an EU-drafted text aimed at overcoming an impasse to revive the nuclear pact, under which it had restrained its nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions.
Kanaani said an agreement hinges on the political will of the West. He said Tehran has acted “responsibly” to reach an agreement that secures the country’s national interests.
Kanaani said Iran last week handed in its comments on a “final” text circulated by the European Union with a view to achieving a desirable outcome to the “marathon” of nuclear talks, which began in April 2021.
Iran, he said, had responded constructively to the U.S. “We believe Iran’s response has been constructive, transparent and legal, and can create the grounds for a conclusion of the talks and for an agreement in a short amount of time if there is also mutual political will,” he said.
“Either way, lifting sanctions and providing economic benefits for the Iranian nation … are among our top goals.”
Russia and China, two other signatories of the JCPOA, alongside France, Germany and the United Kingdom, have supported Iran’s latest comments on the text of the potential agreement.
The U.S. must now respond to Iran’s latest comments, after which the back and forth dialogue could continue even as the U.S. midterms elections in November approach quickly.
Since last year, the Austrian capital has been hosting multiple rounds of talks between the signatories of the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in order to examine the prospect of the deal’s revival and removal of the illegal economic sanctions.
The negotiations have seen many interruptions due to Washington’s obdurate refusal to respect Iran’s red lines.
The European Union, which acts as the coordinator in indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, recently came up with a draft proposal to revive the deal. Tehran offered its response, which the bloc described as “reasonable.”
The United States took several weeks to offer its response to Iran’s comments.
Last week, Tehran offered its opinion on the U.S. response and is awaiting Washington’s reply.
Kanaani said, “The Islamic Republic tried to make the text of the agreement stronger.”
He noted that receiving guarantees from the other side topped the agenda of Iran’s foreign ministry in the Vienna talks.
Tehran has sought verifiable guarantees that the other parties will not again violate their obligations.
The spokesman said Iran wants guarantees that no further sanctions will be imposed after they are removed in order to safeguard Tehran’s economic interests.
The Islamic Republic also wants guarantees that the International Atomic Energy Agency will refrain from politicizing the country’s nuclear program.
The closure of the case of safeguard issues is of key essence to Iran, Kanaani said.
Kanaani also touched upon European calls for Tehran help to tackle the continent’s energy crisis, saying that the energy resources-rich Iran has maintained its presence in the energy market despite being subjected to sanctions and is exporting oil to its partners.
He said if the Vienna talks yield an agreement, Tehran can help European countries which have been grappling with an energy crisis since the Russian operation began in Ukraine in February.