Iran Says US 'delays' Restoration Of Nuclear Deal, Insists Prisoner Swap Unrelated

Iran's Arak nuclear reactor. (Wikimedia Commons/Nanking2012)

JAKARTA - Iran accused the United States on Monday of delaying in indirect talks aimed at restoring the 2015 Nuclear Deal, insisting the prisoner swap with Washington was not linked to negotiations.

After 16 months of indirect US-Iran talks, with EU officials going back and forth between the two sides, a senior EU official said on August 8 it had set a 'final' offer and expected a response in the following weeks.

Iran last week responded to the EU proposal with "additional views and considerations", while asking Washington to show flexibility to resolve the three remaining issues. The United States last week said it was studying Iran's response.

"America is procrastinating and there is no action from the European side. America and Europe need a deal more than Iran," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani told a news conference, citing Reuters August 22.

Kanaani further said that Tehran wants a sustainable deal that will defend Tehran's legitimate rights.

"Until we agree on all the issues, we cannot say we have reached a complete agreement."

Meanwhile, the United States has repeatedly asked Tehran to release several Iranian-Americans held in Iran on security charges. On the other hand, Iran has demanded that several Iranians detained on charges related to US sanctions also be released.

"We stress that the prisoner exchange with Washington is a separate issue and has nothing to do with the negotiation process to revive the 2015 pact," Kanaani stressed, adding that Tehran was ready to swap prisoners.

"We are looking for a good deal that will guarantee Iran's national interest and will last a long time. We will not be 'bitten' twice," Kanaani said.

The 2015 nuclear deal, which limited Tehran's nuclear program, was followed in return for the lifting of sanctions.

However, the US under President Donald Trump abandoned the deal, imposing tougher sanctions on Iran. Tehran responded by violating the agreement.

Recovery efforts had shown a bright path, after 11 months of indirect talks in Vienna in March. However, talks stalled again, because Iran asked Washington for assurances that no more US president would leave the deal.