European powers hoped that they could hold a meeting of signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the sidelines of annual summit of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Foreign Minister, was the first politician, who expressed hope that world powers - except the US - and Iran will meet in order to pursue a positive move for the resumption of nuclear talks in Vienna, Austria.
Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh reacted to the offer, saying that the Iranian delegation in the UN does not have any agenda to hold a meeting with ministers of the P4+1 group (the UK, France, Russia, China plus Germany) on this occasion.
Khatibzadeh noted that the foreign policy team of the 13th administration in Iran should finalize expectations on the resumption of the negotiations, adding that the revival of the JCPOA in the Vienna talks is one of the main issues, which will be discussed during one-on-one consultations with the ministers of P4+1 and Josep Borrell, EU foreign policy chief.
Borrell wrote a memo on his visit to New York, explaining that he hoped to hold a meeting at ministerial level. This shows foreign ministers from Germany and the UK were also prepared to participate in a collective meeting on the JCPOA.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas issued a statement before his visit to New York, emphasizing that he will urge the Iranian officials to return to the negotiating table to revive the deal, warning that the invitation will not continue forever.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has time and again underlined that the Iranian officials did not abandon the Vienna talks and that the new administration in Tehran is reviewing the situation.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has said that Tehran is pursuing a pragmatic foreign policy and that the Islamic Republic will return to the negotiating table and will resume its commitments under the JCPOA if other parties abide by the obligations.
The FM also urged the other signatories to the nuclear deal to show goodwill and respect the Iranians' rights and interests; however, the European powers have tried to show that the ball is in Iran's court to return to the deal.
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