US Ambassador to UN: We May Not Reach Agreement on JCPOA

Linda Thomas-Greenfield has stated that despite progress in negotiations to revive the JCPOA with Iran, there is also a possibility of failing to reach an agreement. Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian announced the exchange of written messages between Iran and the US in Vienna negotiations.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, said in a press conference on Tuesday, May 3rd (13 Ordibehesht) that there has been progress in the JCPOA revival negotiations, but much work still needs to be done and “there is also a possibility that we will not reach an agreement.”

She added that if diplomacy fails to produce results, the United States will work closely with the international community to increase pressure on Iran. This comes as Anthony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, had previously emphasized on Tuesday that returning to the JCPOA is the only way to counter Iran’s nuclear threats.

The ISNA news agency also reported on Wednesday, 14 Ordibehesht, quoting Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, that “the negotiations have not stopped but are continuing in other ways through the exchange of written messages between Iran and the US via the EU representative in the Vienna negotiations.” Amir-Abdollahian said in an interview with al-Masirah network: “The lifting of sanctions in all sectors and providing economic guarantees is one of the most important items on our negotiation agenda.”

The Vienna negotiations have been stalled for weeks. Nour News, a news outlet close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, reported that the outstanding issues in the Vienna negotiations are not limited solely to removing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from the US terrorist list, and there are other remaining issues as well.