The United States and Iran commented on the results of the Vienna meeting, which was scheduled to be extended in order to search for a settlement that would lead to Washington's return to the nuclear agreement and Tehran's commitment to all of its provisions.

At a time when it revealed the size of its stockpile of enriched uranium, Iran insisted on the need for Washington to show seriousness and credibility and to initiate a return to the agreement signed by the Iranian government and international powers in 2015.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said today, Wednesday, that the Vienna meeting "is the beginning of a new chapter, and reaching a conclusion is possible if Washington shows that it is sincere and serious."

Rouhani stressed that Tehran would abide by its nuclear pledges if the United States returned to the agreement and practically lifted the sanctions.

Rouhani stressed the failure of the maximum pressure policy, and the psychological war that Washington launched against Iran for 3 years, as he put it.

 He added that Washington has come to admit that there is no path other than diplomacy, and that it is calling for dialogue, which "is considered a success for Iran."

For his part, Iranian Assistant Foreign Minister, Abbas Arachichi, said that Iran is not interested in any proposals based on the principle of step by step, describing them as not serious.

Commenting on the Vienna Committee talks, Arachi said that they were constructive, and indicated that the next meeting will be held on Friday.

first step

On the second side, the US envoy to Iran - Robert Malley - said that the talks in Vienna are a first step in a long and difficult path, with the aim of returning the United States and Iran to compliance with the agreement.

Mali added - in an interview on National Public Radio - that the Vienna talks include discussions on determining the steps that Washington and Tehran should take, because the two sides have been increasingly in non-compliance with their nuclear obligations.

He explained that Iran's position on lifting sanctions before changing its nuclear activities shows that it is not serious about returning to the agreement.

The parties to the nuclear agreement concluded yesterday, Tuesday, the first round of talks in Vienna, and agreed to hold two meetings at the level of experts, to discuss the lifting of sanctions and technical measures related to the Iranian nuclear program.

The representative of the European Union said that the meeting was positive and constructive, and that there was a general feeling of unity and ambition for a joint diplomatic process, as he put it.

Uranium and advanced devices

In the same context, Iran announced that its stockpile of 20% enriched uranium reached 55 kilograms after using sophisticated centrifuges.

A spokesman for the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency announced yesterday that his country has started the phase of mechanical testing of advanced "IR-9" centrifuges.

The spokesman added that these devices are very modern, and that they were locally manufactured according to what he called the approved standards.

It is noteworthy that former US President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the nuclear deal in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions on Tehran.

On the other hand, Iran announced that it will gradually abandon the restrictions imposed on its nuclear program, which were designed to prevent it from acquiring an atomic bomb.

After taking office last January, the new US President Joe Biden expressed his readiness to return to the nuclear agreement, but his administration calls on Iran to return to its full obligations first, while the Iranian government demands that Washington begin positive steps towards returning to the agreement.