Khatibzadeh: Iran-US Exchanges in Vienna Are ‘Written but Unofficial’
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson says that exchanges between Iran and the United States during talks to revive the JCPOA in Vienna take place through a “defined channel” and “in written but unofficial form.”
According to reports from Iranian media on Monday, December 4, Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran, during a press conference in response to journalists’ questions stated: “There is a specific channel between Iran and the United States for exchanging views, and this specific channel is in written form” so that according to him “there is no misunderstanding.”
Khatibzadeh emphasized: “No verbal messages or messages outside written texts have been exchanged between Iran and America.”
He also, in response to a question about Russia’s negotiations with America on behalf of Iran, noting that “some” are creating rumors and think they “are conveying correct interpretation,” said there is a “trilateral mechanism” between Iran, China, and Russia.
On Sunday, Nournews, a media outlet close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, implicitly confirmed the accuracy of reports about Russia and China convincing Iran to set aside maximum demands in negotiations.
The Islamic Republic News Agency also wrote that Iran is conducting talks in Vienna “with cooperation and flexibility.”
Foreign Policy magazine on December 29 reported, citing Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s senior negotiator in Vienna talks, that China and Russia have convinced Iran to back down from some of its maximum positions – including Iran’s insistence that talks focus solely on sanctions and not on the nuclear issue.
The United States, emphasizing “diplomacy” as the best option for addressing Iran’s nuclear program, says that lack of good faith and seriousness on Iran’s part will cause Washington to resort to “other options.”
The eighth round of talks between Iran and world powers to revive the JCPOA resumed on Monday, December 8, and after a brief pause for New Year’s holidays, will continue from next Monday.
Source: Voice of America
