29 Mar 2024
Sunday 21 February 2021 - 13:43
Story Code : 387963

Iran says considering EUs offer of informal meeting with US, P4+1

A senior Iranian diplomat says the country is considering the European Unions offer to host an informal meeting between Iran and other parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, with Washington also attending as a guest.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell has expressed his readiness to invite the current parties to the JCPOA, namely the P4+1 and Iran, to attend an unofficial meeting to develop the future roadmap of the deal.

The US, which left the multilateral deal in 2018, will also be invited to attend the informal meeting as a guest, Araqchi said in a televised interview on Saturday night.

Now we are considering Borrells offer, and are engaged in consultations with our other friends and partners like China and Russia, he added.

However, the Iranian diplomat said, Tehran believes the US return to the JCPOA and the implementation of its commitments including the removal of sanctions do not need any negotiation.

Certain technical talks and operational arrangements might be needed, which can be arranged by Borrells apparatus, but basically there is no need for talks, Araqchi added.

Anyway, we are considering Borrells offer and will declare our opinion once the consideration is over, he said.

Ned Price, a spokesman for the State Department, said Thursday the Biden administration was willing to meet with Iranian officials and other world powers involved in negotiating the nuclear deal.

Price said Washington "would accept an invitation" from the European Union's top diplomat to attend a meeting aimed "to discuss a diplomatic way forward on Irans nuclear program."

So far, no meeting has been arranged yet, but Borrell has expressed willingness to invite the parties to engage in talks.

A State Department official, briefing reporters on the condition of anonymity, said on Thursday Washington would be represented at the meeting by Biden's special envoy for Iran, Rob Malley.

Biden also announced on Friday that the US was prepared to get engaged in talks with the P5+1 on Irans nuclear program.
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