Iran says any breakthrough from Vienna talks depends on decisions by the West

Iran and other western nations have been in the midst of talks as part of efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. Tehran officials have handed in their final proposal, saying that any breakthrough from the rounds of discussions would now depend on the decisions of the West.

Iran said that decisions by the West would determine any potential breakthrough from the discussions in Vienna, according to Al Jazeera. Iranian officials have already handed in their final proposal in the final round of discussions centered on the nuclear deal. Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahim said that it would be ideal for an agreement to be made and sanctions lifted as soon as possible.

Amirabdollahim also called on the US and other European countries that are part of the deal to stop slow-walking the negotiations for an agreement.

“It’s better for Iran if there’s an agreement in Vienna and sanctions are lifted today rather than tomorrow,” said Amirabdollahim in a joint press conference Monday with his Irish counterpart Simon Coveney in Tehran. “So we are in a hurry for a good agreement, but it must be within the framework of logical talks and to achieve the rights of the Iranian nation.”

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani revealed on Twitter that the outcome of the talks in Vienna has reached a point where the US position would determine the outcome of the discussions.

“#ViennaTalks have reached a stage where outcome can be announced without speculation and with certainty. The US political decision to realize or refuse to accept the requirements of a credible and lasting deal based on the principles accepted in #JCPOA can replace speculation,” tweeted Shamkhani.

Iran also faces another challenge, this time involving its borders. Iran and Pakistan have announced that the two countries will form a joint working group that will address its border issues, according to Al Jazeera. Such issues are of security, trade, and travel issues between the two countries, according to Iran’s interior minister Ahmad Vahidi.

Speaking with Iranian-state media outlet IRNA, Vahidi said both sides were looking to ramp up engagement on economic relations.