JAKARTA - EU Head of Foreign Policy (EU) Josep Borrel has discouraged hopes of a swift revival of the 2015 Nuclear Deal, saying it is likely that an agreement between Iran and world powers has faded.
"I apologize for saying I'm less confident today than the previous 28 hours about the convergence of the negotiation process, about the prospect of achieving an agreement in the near future," Borrell told reporters in Brussels.
"If the process is not integrated, the whole process is in danger," he said.
The European Union and other world powers have been conducting direct negotiations with Iran, while the United States has participated indirectly, for more than a year to revive the 2015 Nuclear Deal, which eased sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on nuclear activity.
Former US president Donald Trump reneged with the 2015 deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran, which continues its nuclear activities.
A deal, strongly opposed by Israel and many members of the US Congress, could strain oil prices, as it would allow Iran to increase production.
Borrell said he would "continue to consult with (Nuclear Agreements) participants, particularly the United States, because it is a request Washington in particular, not the only one, on how to proceed".
He did not explain further about the request.
Separately, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Miwi said on Monday Tehran was seeking a closure of an international Atomic Energy Agency investigation into its nuclear activities, among other guarantees before agreeing to revive the 2015 deal.
Iran's request risks undermining opportunities to save the deal, as Washington has refused to link it to the UN agency's investigation.
Last week, the US State Department said it had studied Iran's response to its latest efforts to revive the deal and would respond through the EU, but " unfortunately, it is not constructive".
The response was sent via Borrell, who had coordinated the negotiations, and made a final offer on August 8 after 16 months of talks.
Borrell on Monday described the offer as "a balanced context taking into account all positions of all parties".
"At some point, my responsibility as coordinator is to say it's enough, it's the most balanced text I can produce, taking into account all points of view," Borrell said, speaking after a meeting of the Council of the European Union-Ukraine Association..
"This proposal was received very well and I received positive feedback from all partners.
"The initial request I received made sense from both parts and they were accepted without changing the text fundamentally, but then the last interaction was not convergence, it was divergent," he said.
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