VIENNA (Dispatches) -- Russia’s permanent representative to the international organizations in the Austrian capital says the course of nuclear talks proves that the U.S. overestimated the impact of its “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran.
“The course of the #ViennaTalks proves once again that U.S. overestimated the influence of maximum pressure on #Iran. Pressure continues but Iran isn’t in the rush although it knows that the sooner the talks are completed the sooner sanctions are lifted,” Mikhail Ulyanov, who is also Russia’s lead negotiator to the Vienna talks, tweeted on Thursday.
So far, six rounds of negotiations have been held in the Austrian capital. However, disagreements have persisted over a number of issues, including how to sequence the U.S. sanctions removal.
Tehran has asked for guarantees that the U.S. would not again leave the nuclear agreement under a new administration.
China said on Thursday that the United States is required to take “concrete actions” and completely lift its illegal and unilateral sanctions against Iran in order to return to the nuclear deal.
“China welcomes the fact that the U.S. seeks to return to the JCPOA. In the meantime, the U.S. side needs to show sincerity by taking concrete actions to regain the trust of the international community,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.
He added that the Vienna talks have entered the final stage with all parties showing their “political will to reach an agreement” but the remaining differences should be bridged.
“The U.S. should make an early decision to comprehensively and completely lift its illegal unilateral sanctions against Iran and third parties, while Iran should fully resume its compliance on this basis,” the Chinese diplomat pointed out.