Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Monday that the country’s negotiators do not hold direct or indirect talks with the US representatives in Vienna, adding that no progress has yet been made about Iran’s loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“In Vienna, we have no direct or indirect talks with the US. The US government knows better than anyone that Iran has adopted all (remedial) measures within the framework of the nuclear deal’s parameters and will stop them when the US lifts all sanctions and we can verify it,” Khatibzadeh told reporters in a press conference in Tehran.
Asked about starting 60% enrichment of uranium by Iran, he said that the measure has been adopted in response to the recent terrorist attack at the Iranian nuclear installations in Natanz.
Khatibzadeh also said that the Vienna talks have progressed in the correct direction so far, and added, “We are on the right track and progress has been made, but it is not as if we have reached the final stage. We tried to present our texts and called on the other side to quickly study the common texts and instances. The sooner this happens, the better we can think about the outcome. It's too early to think about it. We are now at a stage where discussions on difficult issues need to take place.”
He, meantime, said that the two negotiating sides in Vienna talks have not yet reached an agreement on the grant of the IMF loan demanded by Tehran after the coronavirus outbreak, stressing that no new agreement beside the nuclear deal will be made.
Iran’s Permanent Representative and Envoy to the Vienna-based International Organizations Kazzem Qaribabadi said on Sunday that the ongoing talks between Tehran and the Group 4+1 (China, Russia, Britain and France plus Germany) in Vienna are aimed at clearing the path for the removal of US sanctions against Iran.
"What is being pursued and discussed in Vienna is to create a clear picture of the lifting of sanctions," Qaribabadi said.
"Identifying and listing sanctions lifting measures is necessary for this transparency, as well as assessing the seriousness of the US in its claim to return and full adherence to the JCPOA and its compliance with the declared policy of the country," he added.
"The basis for negotiating team is also based on the principles set by the Leader as the Establishment's policy in this regard," Qaribabadi said.
"The Vienna negotiating delegation regularly reports the results of the talks to senior officials of Iran for review and decision-making," he added.