Iran studies European proposal for informal meeting with the US

Abbas Araghchi, Deputy of the Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister
Abbas Araghchi, Deputy of the Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Saturday, the Deputy of the Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that his country is studying a European proposal to hold an informal meeting between the current members of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and the United States.

Iran is calling on the US to lift the sanctions that the former president, Donald Trump imposed, while the US says that Iran must first, return to a full compliance with the deal.

Earlier in February, the Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, suggested that the EU Minister of Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, could coordinate steps to return to the nuclear deal.

“We are studying Josep Borrell’s proposal to hold an informal meeting of the P5+1 nuclear deal members with Iran,” Araghchi said in an interview with the state television.

“The only way to return to the nuclear deal with the US is the latter’s lift the sanctions on Iran,” he added.

The White House spokesperson, Jen Psaki, said that the EU has suggested the idea of talks between Iran and the six major powers that signed the agreement.

“The Europeans have invited us and…it is simply an invitation to have a talk, a diplomatic talk,” she added.

Meanwhile, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, arrived in Tehran on Saturday weeks after Iran’s extremist parliament set a deadline on February 23 for Washington to lift the sanctions.

“Grossi’s trip has nothing to do with Iran’s decision, as the decision will be implemented,” Araghchi said.

“About 20 to 30% of the IAEA’s oversight capacity will be reduced as a result of the implementation of the parliament’s decision,” he added.

Earlier, the Iranian government spokesperson, Ali Rabiei said that Iran believes that the American sanctions would soon be lifted despite the continuation of “diplomatic difference” over reviving the nuclear deal.

Rabiei told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) Iran’s desire to solve the crisis, despite not presenting a new position.

Under the deal with major powers, Iran agreed to impose restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of the international sanctions.

Washington re-imposed sanctions after Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018, and Iran responded by not adhering to some of the terms of the deal.