Iran's Written Response on Nuclear Deal EU Mediation... "The US Must Show Flexibility"

Negotiations to restore the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA·Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) resumed on the 4th (local time) in Vienna, Austria, after five months, with Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran's chief negotiator, leaving the Palais Coburg Hotel, the venue of the talks.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Iran has submitted a written response to the European Union (EU) mediation proposal related to the nuclear negotiations.

Earlier, the EU compiled the positions of Iran and the United States and delivered the final mediation proposal to the nuclear deal parties (Iran, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia, Germany), setting the deadline for responses at midnight on the 15th.

State-run IRNA news agency reported on the 16th (local time) that "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a written response to the EU regarding the mediation proposal, and if the United States faces reality and shows flexibility, an agreement will be reached."

The EU also confirmed Iran's submission of the written response on the same day. Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said through a spokesperson, "We are reviewing it (Iran's response) and consulting with other participants on the way forward."

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not disclose the contents of the response. However, an anonymous Iranian diplomat told IRNA, "If guarantees against the re-imposition of sanctions and issues related to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are resolved, the mediation proposal can be accepted."

Foreign media such as AP viewed that Iran did not immediately accept the EU's final mediation proposal. Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's representative to the nuclear negotiations, said in a media interview that day, "Iran wants to strengthen the parts of the mediation proposal related to 'guarantees.'"

So far, Iran has not narrowed differences with the United States over issues such as the removal of the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), guarantees against the re-imposition of sanctions, and undeclared nuclear material locations during the negotiations.

However, the IAEA adopted a board resolution condemning Iran for failing to provide credible explanations regarding the detection of nuclear material at three undeclared sites.

The United States has also claimed that Iran is making unreasonable demands in the nuclear negotiations. On the 15th, Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, said, "If Iran wants sanctions relief, it must fundamentally change its behavior," adding, "The United States will share its views on the mediation proposal with the EU."

The two countries signed the nuclear deal (JCPOA ? Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) in 2015, which aimed to freeze or reduce Iran's nuclear program and lift U.S. economic sanctions accordingly. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 and reinstated sanctions on Iran. In response, Iran has limited IAEA inspections and increased uranium enrichment levels.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.