State media reported Wednesday that Iran was willing to continue nuclear talks in Vienna and would not abandon its aims to meet deadlines set by other parties.
The English-language Press TV quoted a senior Iranian negotiator that Tehran would not
“sacrifice its principled demands and the Iranian nation’s rights, for mere artificial deadlines or timetables.” The negotiator told Press TV that Iran was in Vienna "with full seriousness" and had presented “transparent demands and proposals."
Diplomats from France, German and the United Kingdom (known as the E3) told reporters Tuesday that Europe would not impose unproductive deadlines in their attempts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).
Iranian state media − including Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated to the Revolutionary Guards − are suggesting European Union parties to the talks want to wrap up the current round of talks quickly. France and Germany are EU members and the talks are chaired by Enrique Mora, a senior EU official.
The official news agency (IRNA) arguedthat European parties, under United States pressure, had taken "certain political and media strategies" to hinder talks and direct them away from any agreement. Mehr news agency reported that the Europeans "need… item-by-item consultation with the United States."
The US, which left the JCPOA in 2018 and imposed ‘maximum pressure’ sanctions on Iran, is taking part in Vienna only indirectly – with formal talks involving only remaining JCPOA signatories China, the E3, Iran, and Russia.
In a tweet Wednesday, Wall Street Journal correspondent Laurence Norman quoted a senior European diplomat that the end of this week was not a deadline. "We have brought big suitcases and we can stay through the weekend,” Norman wrote he was told. “This is the way it worked in the rounds so far that we worked until…the point where, mostly the Iranians, had to reconnect with their capitals.”
Talks to revive the JCPOA resumed Monday with Iran's negotiators insisting their aim was to see lifted all the sanctions levied since the US left the JCPOA in 2018. Two expert groups have been formed to discuss US sanctions, which have especially targeted Iran’s oil exports and financial sector.
On Wednesday envoys from JCPOA signatories attended a working group on nuclear issues.
Also Wednesday, Iran's lead negotiator and deputy foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani met with Mora.