A European official said that all parties are more involved in the Vienna negotiations to revive the nuclear agreement with Iran, at a time when the United States and Israel intensify pressure on Tehran by threatening economic or military consequences if diplomacy fails.
"My impression is that the Iranian nuclear negotiations in Vienna are progressing logically," the European official, who declined to be named, was quoted by Reuters news agency, adding that the document reached at the session last June constitutes a common framework.
Contrary to what was reached between Iran and the major powers last June, the new Iranian delegation headed by Ali Bagheri presented two draft proposals during the seventh round, which began last month, and reconvened on Thursday.
And the Iranian (semi-official) Tasnim news agency quoted a source from the Iranian negotiating delegation that the proposals presented by the government of President Ibrahim Raisi are still on the table with the Western parties, and they have not been reconsidered.
The Iranian official confirmed that the Europeans had accepted to discuss the new Iranian proposals, and that they would be the subject of negotiations.
These proposals summarize Tehran's views on lifting sanctions and its nuclear activities.
Iran wants to lift all sanctions imposed by the United States after former US President Donald Trump announced his country's withdrawal from the agreement in 2018, provided that this be done in a verifiable process.
Under the 2015 agreement between Iran and six world powers, Tehran curbed its nuclear program in exchange for easing US, European and United Nations sanctions.
Because Tehran refuses direct contact with Washington, indirect US-Iranian talks are currently taking place in Vienna, in which diplomats from France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China are traveling between the two sides, aimed at pushing the two sides to return to full compliance with the agreement.
For his part, the US special envoy to Iran, Robert Malley, renewed - in statements to Al Jazeera - the US administration's readiness to negotiate directly with the Iranians, because that is the best way in light of this level of mistrust between the two sides, he said.
Alternative options
Yesterday, Thursday, the United States and Israel discussed at the Pentagon conducting joint military exercises to confront Iran's nuclear ambitions.
"I am deeply concerned about the Iranian government's actions in the nuclear field in recent months, its continued provocations, and its lack of diplomatic commitment," US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said when receiving his Israeli counterpart Benny Gantz.
He added that US President Joe Biden clearly said that when policy fails, "we are ready to move to other options."
He did not specify the options presented, but he spoke of joint military maneuvers that were conducted a short time ago in the Red Sea between the United States, Israel, the UAE and Bahrain.
"We will continue to advance this regional security architecture through military cooperation, training, and exercises," Austin added.
For his part, the Israeli minister said that he came "to deepen our dialogue and cooperation in confronting Iran, especially the joint military readiness to confront Iran, and to put an end to its aggression in the region and its nuclear aspirations."
He added that he was fully confident of the US administration's commitment to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Iran vows
The Iranian response came on the lips of some senior officials today, Friday, as Brigadier General Ali Fadavi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary Guards, said that Israel does not dare to carry out its threats because it "will disappear if it does so," according to statements carried by the "News" website.
The website also attributed Fadawi to saying, "We have prepared and are fully prepared to settle Israel on the ground if it attacks us."
In the same context, Interior Minister Ahmed Vahidi said that any Israeli error in the calculations will open the gates of hell to Tel Aviv from Tehran and its friends, as he put it.
Wahidi added that Israel's threats are not new, and that any aggressive step against his country would be "Israel's last step."
On the other hand, the Iranian news agency "Noor News" reported - today, Friday - that Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency held positive meetings in Vienna, adding that details about the results of these talks will be announced soon.
"While the nuclear talks continue in Vienna, constructive talks took place between the agency and Iranian officials in Vienna," the agency, which is affiliated with Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said.
In another context, the British newspaper "The Guardian" quoted Iran's ambassador to London that a British government delegation held talks in Tehran last week, and added that the delegation discussed London's payment of debts to Tehran worth 400 million pounds (about 530 million dollars).