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Published: 22:07, August 15, 2022 | Updated: 23:06, August 15, 2022
Iran reports 'relative progress' in Vienna nuclear talks
By Xinhua
Published:22:07, August 15, 2022 Updated:23:06, August 15, 2022 By Xinhua

The sun sets behind the Palais Coburg where closed-door nuclear talks take place in Vienna, Austria, Aug 5, 2022. (FLORIAN SCHROETTER / AP)

TEHRAN – Iran said on Monday that the latest round of nuclear talks in Vienna had made "relative progress" and a deal could be reached if the Islamic republic's red lines were respected.

"We are close to an agreement, but on the condition that Iran's red lines are respected and the main interests of the country are provided," foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said at a weekly press conference. Consultations are being held at the highest levels, he added.

"We have other expectations from the other side and we believe that all the interests of Iran should be provided.”

READ MORE: Nuclear talks must lead to US sanctions removal, says Iran's committee

Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said Iranian officials are currently exchanging messages with the US side about three specific issues, according to semi-official Fars News Agency.

We have other expectations from the other side and we believe that all the interests of Iran should be provided.

Nasser Kanaani, Spokesman, Foreign Ministry, Iran

"We told America clearly that if our views on these three issues, which are reasonable, are secured, we are ready to enter the stage of announcing an agreement."

He confirmed that the US side had expressed flexibility on two issues to a certain extent during the talks in Vienna, but the flexibility "should be translated into text". The third issue is also important for Iran since it is related to necessary guarantees over lifting US sanctions, he said.

An agreement on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal is possible in the coming days if the US shows flexibility in providing guarantees over Iran's demands, Amir-Abdollahiansaid.

The Iranian government would not tie the country's economy to the results of nuclear talks, he said.

Iran will present its final summary on the latest round of nuclear talks in Vienna to the EU coordinator by midnight on Monday, according to him. “If the Americans show flexibility, we will reach an agreement in the coming days.”

The latest round of nuclear talks was held in Austria's capital Vienna in early August after a five-month hiatus. On Aug 8, the European Union put forward a "final text" of the draft decision on reviving the nuclear deal, awaiting political decisions from participants of the Vienna talks.

In this photo released on Aug 11, 2022 by the Iranian foreign ministry, ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani speaks in Tehran, Iran. (IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY VIA AP)

Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to curb its nuclear program in return for the removal of sanctions on the country. However, former US president Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to drop some of its commitments under the pact.

ALSO READ: Iran says will accept EU proposals if demands met

The talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal began in April 2021 in Vienna but were suspended in March this year because of political differences between Tehran and Washington.

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