Iran Proposes Further JCPOA Talks In Vienna As Tensions Increase

Iranian journalist Abas Aslani has reported that the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian is ready to press fellow Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) parties to engage in another round of talks to discuss the proposals of EU chief Diplomat Josep Borrell.

• Abas Aslani: "Iran FM: EU FP chief Borrell has prepared a draft from the set of views of different parties to Iran Talks & has presented it to all parties. We’re reviewing this proposal in the capitals… We said we’re ready for Iran, P4+1 & US indirectly to discuss further details in Vienna."
• Wall Street Journal's Laurence Norman: "I understand a meeting is possible in next few days. Timing, format, whether actually happens all TBD. Iran wants to talk in person about its response to Borrell draft and wants to present that as new negotiating round. E3/US don’t. But no clarity about Iran’s intentions..."
• The latest development comes in the wake of the US taking a harder line on Tehran by announcing new sanctions on entities involved in the illicit sale of Iranian petroleum products.
• The JCPOA accords were also a prominent topic of today's UN nuclear non-proliferation conference. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said: Iran's nuclear program is "deeply concerning" should Tehran return to compliance with the terms of the JCPOA as "a fair deal is on the table."
• US President Biden said in a statement, "Through diplomacy – in coordination with our Allies and regional partners – we have developed a proposal to secure a mutual return to full implementation of the JCPOA to ensure that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon."