Germany urges Iran to return to nuclear talks “as soon as possible”

Reuters — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 00:20:54 +0000

BERLIN, Sept 1 (Reuters) – Germany called on Iran to resume nuclear talks with six world powers “as soon as possible” to revive a 2015 nuclear deal, the foreign ministry said, after a break in discussions following the election of a hardline Iranian president in June.

“We vehemently ask Iran to return to the negotiating table constructively and as soon as possible,” a ministry spokesperson told a briefing. “We are ready to do so, but the time window won’t be open indefinitely.”

A sixth round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington was adjourned two days after hardliner Ebrahim Raisi was elected Iran’s president. Raisi took office on August 5.

Since April, Iran and six powers have tried to work out how Tehran and Washington can both return to compliance with the nuclear pact, which former U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018 and reimposed harsh sanctions on Tehran.

The Iranian flag waves in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Vienna, Austria May 23, 2021. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas gives a statement before a virtual meeting of NATO Foreign and Defence Ministers in Berlin, Germany, June 1, 2021. Bernd von Jutrczenka/Pool via REUTERS

In reaction, Tehran has violated the nuclear limits of the accord, under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear work in exchange for lifting international sanctions.

Last month, France, Germany and Britain voiced grave concern about reports from the U.N. nuclear watchdog confirming Iran has produced uranium metal enriched up to 20% fissile purity for the first time and lifted production capacity of uranium enriched to 60%. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. read more

The next round of talks has yet to be scheduled.

Two senior Iranian officials told Reuters in July Raisi planned to adopt “a harder line” in the talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Monday the talks might resume in “two to three months”.

Reporting by Alexander Ratz, writing by Emma Thomasson and Parisa Hafezi, editing by Kirsti Knolle, William Maclean

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/germany-urges-resumption-iran-nuclear-talks-2021-09-01/?rpc=401&

[Disclaimer]

The post Germany urges Iran to return to nuclear talks “as soon as possible” first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Iran-German relations - Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association

Germany urges Iran to return to nuclear talks “as soon as possible”