Iran Rejects Deal to Release One Billion Dollars in Exchange for Halting 20% Uranium Enrichment

Abbas Araghchi, while announcing that the JCPOA Commission meeting in Vienna was constructive, stated that Iran rejects any agreement regarding the release of one billion dollars of Iran’s funds in exchange for halting 20 percent uranium enrichment.

Abbas Araghchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs and head of Iran’s delegation at the JCPOA Joint Commission meeting, said the first round of JCPOA negotiations in Vienna was constructive.

This Iranian official added in a press conference with “Press TV” network: “We reject any agreement regarding the release of one billion dollars of Iran’s funds in exchange for halting 20 percent uranium enrichment.”

According to Araghchi, expert-level talks regarding sanctions relief and Iran’s JCPOA commitments will continue.

He announced that negotiators will remain in Vienna to hold another meeting on Friday, April 9, regarding the JCPOA.

Abbas Araghchi arrived in Vienna on Monday evening and immediately began preliminary negotiations with participants in the joint meeting. On Monday night he met with the head of China’s delegation and on Tuesday morning with the head of Russia’s delegation.

The Islamic Republic’s negotiating delegation in Vienna is accompanied by representatives from various organizations, including the Central Bank, Ministry of Oil, and the Atomic Energy Organization, and some observers had evaluated the presence of these representatives as an indication of the high probability of reaching a solution to break the current deadlock.

Iran had previously stated that only after the complete lifting of American sanctions and their verification would it return to its nuclear commitments.

The Islamic Republic has also expressed its opposition to gradual sanctions relief.

Source: DW