Iran ready for nuclear talks at UN ‘if other parties willing’
Iran is ready to start nuclear negotiations on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York if “other parties are willing,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on September 23rd in a video published on his Telegram channel, according to the Arab News and agencies.
The US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord in 2018 under Donald Trump. The 2015 deal, signed by Iran and six world powers, curbed Tehran’s nuclear program in return for sections relief.
Indirect talks since then between Iran and US have stalled. Iran is still officially part of the deal but has reversed some of the commitments due to the reimposition of US sanctions.
“I will stay in New York for a few more days than the president and will have more meetings with various foreign ministers. We will focus our efforts on starting a new round of talks regarding the nuclear pact,” Araqchi said.
He stated that messages have been exchanged via Switzerland and a “general declaration of readiness” has been issued, but cautioned that “current international conditions make the resumption of talks more complicated and difficult than before.”
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Araqchi said he would not meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “I do not believe it would be expedient to hold such a dialogue. There were such meetings before but there is currently no suitable ground for that. We are still a long way from holding direct talks.”
Since the Trump administration reimposed sanctions, Tehran has refused to speak directly with Washington and has instead mainly used European or Arab intermediaries.
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Iran wants an easing of the sanctions that have harmed its economy, but Iran’s relations with the west have deteriorated since the 7th October attack on Israel by Hamas – a group backed by Iran – and since Iran stepped up its support for Russia in its war with Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden’s administration has said the United States is not ready to recommence nuclear talks with Iran.
Reuters.
