Tehran responds to Washington's comments on the JCPOA; US: Iran's response is not constructive

Nasser Kanani, spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Friday morning that the Islamic Republic of Iran has presented its views on the US response regarding the text of a possible draft agreement to revive the JCPOA nuclear deal to the European Union coordinator.

Nasser Kanani said: "After receiving the US response, the Islamic Republic of Iran's expert team carefully examined it, and Iran's responses, after evaluation at various levels, were compiled and delivered to the coordinator tonight."

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman added: "The text submitted has a constructive approach aimed at finalizing the negotiations."

Nasser Kanaani did not provide further explanation regarding Iran's response.

Hours after the news of the Islamic Republic's response to the European Union was published, a US State Department spokesperson said: "We confirm that we have received Iran's response through the European Union. We are reviewing it and will respond through the European Union, but unfortunately it (Iran's response) is not constructive."

In this context, Laura Rosen, a prominent international correspondent in Washington, also wrote, quoting a US government official, that Iran's response was "not encouraging."

The EU foreign policy chief last month presented a “final text” to Iran and the US for revitalizing the JCPOA. Iran and the US have so far exchanged their responses to this text through the EU.

On Wednesday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed hope that the JCPOA would be revived "in the coming days."

This comes while Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, says that Tehran is demanding "stronger guarantees" from the United States.

Iran responded to the EU’s “final text” on August 14, adding some of its own demands, which Mr. Borrell deemed “reasonable.” The United States responded to Iran’s comments a week later. Both sides have raised new issues in their responses.

Over the past two days, White House officials and the French President have also expressed optimism about the revival of the JCPOA in the coming days.

In this context, international media have published reports on the contents and implementation of the JCPOA revival.

The Axios website also wrote in a report on Wednesday that, based on a draft agreement presented by the European Union's foreign policy chief, a possible agreement to revive the JCPOA would be implemented in several stages.

The report adds that four months after the signing of the JCPOA, a third phase of reciprocity will occur. In this phase, Iran is set to complete the implementation of all restrictions on its nuclear program under the JCPOA and resume full IAEA inspection regime at its nuclear facilities.

Axios adds that the United States will also lift all secondary sanctions against Iran at this stage and will take other measures, including engaging with the private sector on how to conduct business with Iran.

Axios also wrote, citing US government officials, that the US, through the European Union, has told the Islamic Republic of Iran that tying the issue of the International Atomic Energy Agency's investigation into Iran's undeclared nuclear activities to the issue of reviving the JCPOA could delay the lifting of US sanctions against Tehran.

Source: Radio Farda