8 August 2022
Diplomats involved in the negotiations in Vienna to revive the Iran nuclear deal returned to their capitals Monday with a draft for a new agreement.
The 2015 deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was struck between Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US. It gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its atomic program.
Iran has massively expanded its nuclear activities since the pact collapsed in 2018 following Washington’s decision to pull out.
Negotiations to restore the deal have taken months. After the talks drew to a close on Monday, Iran’s chief negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani was headed to Tehran for consultations, according to Iran’s state media.
What we know about the proposed draft
Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said a “final text” was presented after “what can be negotiated was negotiated.”
The negotiating parties must now decide “if the draft is acceptable for them,” Moscow’s envoy to the talks said. “In case of no objection the nuclear deal will be restored.”
But an Iranian Foreign Ministry official was quoted by state news agency IRNA as saying that Tehran “is not at a stage to talk about finalizing the deal.”
The official added that Iran “will convey its additional views and considerations after more comprehensive discussions in Tehran.”
