US Welcomes EU Meeting with Iran; ‘We Are Ready for Reciprocal Actions’
The United States welcomed the European Union’s move to hold a meeting with Iran and emphasized that Washington is prepared to return to the nuclear agreement if “reciprocal actions” are taken.
Ned Price, spokesperson for the US State Department, said on Thursday, April 1st: “We clearly welcome this step as a positive move.”
The European Union announced that the remaining parties to the JCPOA, including Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and Iran, will participate in a virtual meeting on Friday to discuss the return of the United States to the nuclear agreement.
Washington withdrew from the JCPOA under the decision of Donald Trump, the former US president, but Joe Biden, the current American leader, has supported the agreement. However, the Biden administration has insisted that Iran must first fully comply with its obligations under the JCPOA.
Ned Price said: “We are ready to return to the nuclear agreement and fulfill our commitments in the JCPOA, if Iran reciprocates in kind.”
The US State Department spokesperson then added that Washington is in discussions with its allies “about the best way to achieve this goal, including through taking initial reciprocal steps.”
Iran has previously emphasized that the United States must first lift the sanctions that were imposed during the Trump era so that Tehran can fully implement its obligations under the JCPOA. Iran has gradually withdrawn from the nuclear agreement in protest of these sanctions.
According to the European Union’s announcement, the Friday meeting will be chaired by Spanish diplomat Enrique Mora, Deputy to Josep Borrell, Secretary General and Political Director of the European Union’s External Action Service.
The European Union’s statement on this meeting says: “Participants are expected to discuss the prospects for the return of the United States to the JCPOA.”
Source: Radio Farda
