In an interview with IRNA on Wednesday, Mohsen Pakaein said that Iran's negotiating team consists of faithful, experienced and trustworthy people respected by every entity in the Iranian government.
They observe the red lines announced by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution (Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei) as the definitive policy and acknowledged by the Supreme National Security Council, Pakaein said, adding that the team is trusted and their vigilance along with observing of the red lines have challenged the US in Vienna talks.
Iran and the P4+1, with the indirect participation of the US, have been holding talks for over a year in the Austrian capital to remove the US sanctions against Iran, but the talks have come to a halt as the US has yet to accept Iran's demands.
The former ambassador called for giving the negotiating team the opportunity and trusting them and helping them follow up the difficult task without machinations that might undermine their job.
He acknowledged as a former diplomat that these talks are tough and negotiating with great powers, especially the US that has had a history of enmity with Iran, is a difficult task.
Pakaein pointed out that this needs vigilance, intelligence, courage and consultation, he said, noting that all these are found in the current Iranian team.
He blamed the US for the current halt in the talks, saying that Washington unjustifiably withdrew from an international deal endorsed by the UN Security Council and not only did the US refuse to implement its previous commitments, but it also added new sanctions.
The US should recompense today, Pakaein underlined, adding that if the US wants a good deal, it should consider Iran's definitive policy and remove all the JCPOA-related sanctions and the ones imposed after the US withdrawal.
Iran would resume full compliance to the JCPOA, once sanctions removal has been verified and Tehran has received assurance that Washington wouldn't repeat the previous notorious withdrawal, as the former diplomat noted.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, according to Pakaein, hasn’t linked its affairs to the JCPOA and the talks to revive it. Iran wouldn’t wait for a possible deal in Vienna, but it would advance the country leveraging domestic capacity.
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