The Arak nuclear site in Iran.
-
AP / SIPA
Maybe later ... Iran said on Sunday that it was not the "right" time for an informal meeting on the 2015 nuclear deal. The European Union had proposed, in February, this meeting that the administration of US President Joe Biden had accepted in principle.
Since the election of Joe Biden, everyone involved in the file has been trying to save the Vienna Agreement (Austria) which granted Iran relief from international sanctions in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.
Former US President Donald Trump in 2018 withdrew Washington from the agreement and reimposed punitive sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Everyone wants the other to take the first step
"Given the recent positions and actions of the United States and the three European countries (France, Germany, United Kingdom, signatories of the agreement), Iran does not consider the appropriate moment to hold the proposed informal meeting", Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement.
“There has still been no change in the positions and behavior of the United States,” continued Saeed Khatibzadeh, saying that the Biden administration was pursuing “Trump's policy of maximum pressure” against Iran.
Joe Biden has said he's ready to revive the deal, but insists Iran first revert to all of its nuclear commitments, most of which have been suspended in response to U.S. sanctions.
Tehran, for its part, asks Washington to take the first step by removing sanctions.
World
Iranian nuclear: United States accepts EU invitation and gestures towards Tehran
World
Iran: Discussions Thursday between Paris, London, Berlin and Washington
Joe biden
United States
World
Iran
Iranian nuclear program