The opening session of talks between Iran and the Group 4+1 (Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) on lifting sanctions was held in a “constructive, professional and straight” atmosphere.
All parties acknowledged Iran's right to insist on the lifting of sanctions, and it was decided that the meeting of the working group on removal of sanctions would start discussions.
The Iranian delegation stressed that until a decision on the sanctions, it will not be possible to decide on other issues.
It was emphasized that as long as the sanctions red list is in place, the green light for the US return to the agreement will not be turned on.
Sources in the talks said Russia and China fully supported the positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Regarding the documents resulted from the previous 6 rounds of negotiations, the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran stressed that these documents are only a draft and although Iran does not stand in rejection of all of them, the draft is basically changeable and negotiable; therefore the delegation of the Islamic Republic Iran intends to submit its views and proposals on previous texts and put new drafts on the table too.
It was emphasized that until everything is agreed, nothing will be agreed upon.
The former US president discarded a complete and final agreement. The current president is expected to be at least as bold as his predecessor in accepting the country's undertakings.
It was emphasized that only the complete removal of sanctions and end of maximum pressure with all its means can lead to the US return to the agreement.
It was stressed that the negotiations should determine the fate of the sanctions removal in a "sufficient, accurate and clear" way and that Iran will continue its compensatory measures until the removal of sanctions.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has always carefully and obsessively demonstrated adherence to its undertakings in practice, and is now fully prepared and determined to reach a "fair agreement that guarantees the legitimate rights of the Iranian people". But if the US wants to play a sanctions game with Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond appropriately to this game.
It was noted that throughout the years of oppressive sanctions, the Islamic Republic of Iran has learned how to confront the sanctions and does not see itself in a time urgency to reach an agreement.
Iran’s top negotiator Ali Baqeri Kani, who is also the deputy foreign minister, told reporters in Vienna on Monday that after the first round all participants agreed to focus on lifting sanctions against Tehran.
Baqeri Kani said that he was optimistic after the first meetings, adding that all parties agreed that focus of the talks should be lifting of sanctions imposed on Iran after the US unilateral withdrawal from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
He added that the participants also agreed that a special working group should start its work on Tuesday to discuss "the removal of illegal and brutal sanctions" imposed on the Iranian nation.
"I believe that this is a great achievement that all member states of the G4+1 group accepted Iran's rightful request and emphasized that the state of the US regime's illegal sanctions against our people must be clarified first and then other issues be discussed," Baqeri Kani said.
He added that guarantees should be given to Tehran that no new sanctions would be imposed on the country.
“During the meeting, we emphasized that the main factor behind the current conditions is actions taken by a country, which left the agreement in violation of the accord and the United Nations Security Council resolution [that upheld it], and also reinstated past sanctions [on Iran] in contravention of international laws and regulations while imposing new sanctions as well,” Baqeri Kani said.
The US unilaterally abandoned the multilateral nuclear deal in 2018 despite Iran’s full compliance with its nuclear undertakings, as repeatedly certified by the UN nuclear agency. The US then unleashed a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, which practically deprived the country of all of the deal’s economic benefits.
Envoys from Iran and the remaining signatories to the JCPOA – Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China – ended the first meeting of the seventh round of discussions in Vienna on Monday. The negotiations were paused in June, when Iran held its presidential election. Since then, the new Iranian administration has been reviewing the details of the six rounds of discussions held under the previous administration.
Iran has already clarified that the talks will not focus on nuclear issues, noting that those issues were already been resolved through negotiations, which led to the conclusion of the JCPOA.
Iran says it will not settle for anything less than removal of all US sanctions at once and in a verifiable manner. Tehran has also called on the other parties to make the most of the occasion, warning that the window of opportunity will not remain open indefinitely.
No comments:
Post a Comment