TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian says the United States must set aside its extravagant demands and instead take realistic steps toward reaching an agreement on the revival of the landmark 2015 Iran deal.
Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a telephone conversation with the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, on Monday evening, praising the continuous efforts of the top EU official and those of his deputy Enrique Mora for the restoration of the Iran deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Iran’s top diplomat also briefed the EU foreign policy chief on his recent talks with Italian and French counterparts, Luigi Di Maio and Catherine Colonna respectively, stressing that Washington should abandon the ineffective approach of the past and the sanctions it has slapped against Tehran as part of the so-called “maximum pressure” campaign.
“There is no doubt about the Islamic Republic of Iran’s determination to reach a good, strong and lasting agreement,” Amir-Abdollahian highlighted.
Elsewhere in the telephone conversation, the Iranian foreign minister elaborated on Tehran’s approach to food and energy security and pointed to the tripartite meeting between the presidents of Iran, Russia, and Turkey in Tehran.
Borrell, for his part, appreciated the positive and serious will of the Iranian side during the JCPOA revival talks and underlined the need for collective proposals to break the impasse.
The EU foreign policy chief also lauded Iran’s initiatives to overcome the remaining obstacles and disputes to reach a final agreement, emphasizing that he and Mora would spare no efforts to facilitate and accelerate the process through communication and consultation with all parties involved.
Iran and the U.S. concluded two days of indirect talks, mediated by the European Union, in the Qatari capital of Doha, late last month in an attempt to break the stalemate in reviving the JCPOA.
At the end of the talks, Iran and the EU said they would keep in touch “about the continuation of the route and the next stage of the talks.”
The talks in Doha followed seven rounds of inconclusive negotiations in the Austrian capital of Vienna between Iran and the five remaining parties to the JCPOA since April last year.
Ans also, Amirabdollahian in a telephone conversation with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, lauded Iraq’s constructive role in the development of regional dialogue.
Iranian official described Baghdad’s efforts to promote dialogue as being in line with strengthening stability, security and development in the region.
He voiced his readiness to continue consultations with his Iraqi opposite number on pursuing issues that are of interest to both sides at the bilateral and regional levels.
He said Baghdad held talks at the event on promoting regional cooperation.
He vowed that his country will continue its efforts to enhance peace and stability in the region.
The two top diplomats also discussed bilateral ties as well as the process of talks between Tehran and Riyadh.