Rouhani says main Iran-US issues resolved as talks continue in Vienna
Tehran, Jun 2 (EFE).- Iran’s main differences with the United States have been resolved, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday, as the two countries try to revive the 2015 nuclear accord.
Talks taking place in Vienna that hope to bring both sides back into compliance with the nuclear agreement entered their fifth round last week.
During the weekly cabinet meeting, Rouhani explained that there are still a few issues to be resolved between Tehran and Washington, stressing he has fulfilled his pledge to remove the crippling US sanctions against the Islamic republic.
“We have all paid a high price for these victories,” said Rouhani, thanking the people’s patience, the government’s mediation and the country’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s guidance.
Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 with the United States and other leading nations limiting its uranium enrichment capabilities in exchange for economic sanctions to be lifted.
Three years later, former US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of the JCPOA and embarked on a “maximum pressure” campaign of re-imposing the sanctions against Iran, which began violating the terms of the deal, arguing it was no longer valid because Washington was not complying with its commitments.
Iran and the delegations of the five remaining signatories – Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and Germany – kicked off a new stage of negotiations in early April, in which the United States is taking part indirectly through intermediaries.
Trump’s successor Joe Biden wants to revive the nuclear deal. He has insisted that the Islamic republic will be made to fulfil its nuclear commitments, while Tehran demands Washington lift sanctions first.
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