Iran’s top negotiators in the Vienna talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal Abbas Araqchi said Tehran’s policies are not going to change under the administration of President-elect Ebrahim Raisi, who will take office in August.
In an interview with Japan’s NHK in Vienna after the conclusion of the sixth round of JCPOA talks on Sunday, Araqchi, who is also Deputy Foreign Minister, said Iran’s policies are unchanging, irrespective of different administrations.
Asked about Tehran’s stance under the next president, Araqchi said President-elect Raisi is a realistic and reasonable person, and that Iran’s position will not change even after the transition of government.
Araqchi also stressed that what matters most to Iran is to preserve its national interests, noting that the difficult part of the talks still remains, according to Tasnim news agency.
The top negotiator also expressed hope that the nuclear talks would conclude during the current administration of President Hasan Rouhani.
“The negotiations are closer to a deal than ever,” Araqchi told NHK, adding that that negotiators decided to conclude this round and return home not only for further consultations, but also for decision-making.
The most recent round of efforts to resuscitate the JCPOA began on April 6 to examine the US’ likely return to it.
Three working groups that focus on nuclear issues, the removal of sanctions, and the JCPOA implementation arrangements have held several meetings in Vienna in recent weeks.
The US left the JCPOA in 2018 and restored the economic sanctions that the accord had lifted. Tehran retaliated with remedial nuclear measures that it is entitled to take under the JCPOA’s Paragraph 36.
Source: Iranian media
