Iran rejects deal to free up $1 billion in exchange for halting enrichment
Abbas Araqchi, while declaring the JCPOA commission meeting in Vienna to be constructive, announced that he would reject any agreement to release $1 billion of Iranian money in exchange for halting 20% enrichment.
Abbas Araghchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs and head of the Iranian delegation, said at the meeting of the Joint Commission on the JCPOA that the first round of JCPOA negotiations in Vienna had been constructive.
The Iranian official added in a press conference with the "Press TV" network: "We reject any agreement regarding the release of one billion dollars of Iranian money in exchange for stopping 20% enrichment."
According to Araqchi, expert talks regarding the lifting of sanctions and Iran's JCPOA measures 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 his preliminary talks with the participants in the joint meeting. He held talks with the head of the Chinese delegation on Monday night and with the head of the Russian delegation on Tuesday morning.
The Islamic Republic's negotiating delegation in Vienna is accompanied by representatives from various agencies, including the Central Bank, the Ministry of Oil, and the Atomic Energy Organization, and some observers had considered this to be a sign of the high possibility of reaching a solution to break the current impasse.
Iran had previously announced that it would return to its nuclear commitments only after the complete lifting of US sanctions and their verification.
The Islamic Republic has also announced its opposition to the gradual lifting of sanctions.
Source: DW
