Welcoming EU-Designed Nuclear Diplomacy, Iran Urges US To Show Desire

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian. (Wikimedia Commons/khamenei.ir)

JAKARTA - Iran welcomed diplomatic efforts to revive a 2015 nuclear pact with major powers on Wednesday, a day after the European Union's top diplomat proposed a new draft text to restore the accord.

"Iran welcomes the continuation of diplomacy and negotiations," Iranian state media quoted Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian as telling EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell by telephone.

"The United States has always stated that it wants a deal, so this approach has to be seen in both the deal and practice," Amirabdollahian added. It was not immediately clear what he meant.

Borrell on Tuesday said he had proposed a new draft text to revive the 2015 deal, under which Iran curbed its nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.

Then, then-US President Donald Trump reneged on the deal in 2018 and reimposed US sanctions, prompting Iran to breach the deal's nuclear limit.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal aims to make it harder for Iran to gather fissile material for nuclear weapons, an ambition Iran has long denied, saying its atomic program is for peaceful purposes.

On Tuesday, the State Department said it was reviewing Borrell's proposal and would respond to the European Union.

Borel said the deal on the table reflected "the determination of all to ensure its sustainability, including President Joe Biden's commitment and US assurances in this regard."

He appeared to be referring to President Joe Biden's commitment, described in an October 2021 White House statement, "to return the US to full compliance with the JCPOA and to remain in full compliance, so long as Iran does the same."

Separately, the White House declined to comment on the Axios report citing White House Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk as saying it was "highly unlikely" that the 2015 deal would be revived any time soon.