Iran: Nuclear deal discussions in Vienna resume

Iran and other world powers resumed talks on the nuclear deal in November with the hopes of restarting the agreement. Talks have restarted again in Vienna following a short break.

Discussions between Iran and other world powers over the nuclear deal have resumed this week in Vienna after a short break. The return to the discussions also comes amidst tensions surrounding the demands made by Tehran during the previous round of talks. Enrique Mora of the European Union chaired the Thursday meeting with Iran and the rest of the countries that are part of the deal – the UK, France, Germany, Russia, and China.

After the meeting, Mora said that he felt “a renewed sense of purpose on the need to work and reach an agreement” regarding reviving the nuclear deal that was made in 2015.

“Whether that would be confirmed and endorsed by negotiations on the details, we will see in the coming days,” said Mora. Mora also stressed the importance of reaching an agreement as soon as possible.

Ali Bagheri Kani, who is the lead negotiator for Iran, said that Tehran is taking the negotiations seriously and that Iran was continuing discussions based on its previous stances. “Iran is serious about reaching an agreement if the ground is paved … The fact that all sides want the talks to continue shows that all parties want to narrow the gaps,” Kani told reporters after the discussions resumed.

The US has indirectly participated in the nuclear deal discussions following the withdrawal by Donald Trump in 2018 and instead imposed sanctions on Iran. US President Joe Biden has indicated that he wants the US to rejoin the deal, and Washington plans to send a delegation led by Robert Malley, the special envoy for Iran, to Vienna on the weekend.

Even as talks over the nuclear deal have resumed, Iran is also moving forward with its nuclear program. An explosion was heard the previous weekend near the Natanz nuclear facility, with a bright light reportedly seen in the sky at the time. Iranian state television said that the light was coming from air defense units that fired a missile as part of its testing a rapid reaction force over Natanz.

A spokesperson for the Iranian army, Shahin Taqikhani, said that there is no reason to be concerned as such exercises are done in a secure environment.