Iran more confident about staying in the nuclear deal – diplomat

Tabnak – As a new step by Iran and 3 major European powers to preserve the landmark nuclear deal, high-ranking Iranian and European diplomats held a joint commission today in Vienna. Evaluating the results of the meeting, an Iranian official says hopes have been increased for the deal to survive.

According to the Islamic Republic News Agency, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said given the European countries’ commitment to meet Iran's demands, he's now more confident about preserving Iran nuclear deal also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Araqchi made the remarks Friday after the JCPOA joint commission meeting in Vienna.

“The extraordinary JCPOA joint commission meeting was held at Iran’s request to review US withdrawal from Iran Deal and its consequences and on whether other signatories are able to keep the deal and also Iran’s interests without the US,” he said.

“Before today’s meeting, we set up working groups on sanctions and held several expert meetings with EU/E3, Chinese and Russian experts,” he added. “All members expressed their commitment to JCPOA and also their regret over US walk away from the deal,” he noted.

They also reiterated the fact that meeting Iran’s demands regarding JCPOA and normalizing economic cooperation with Iran is necessary for keeping Iran Deal, Araqchi told reporters.

All parties are for holding talks with Iran in oil, banking, investment, trade, insurance and financial fields. He went on to say that negotiations will continue at all levels. “After holding the necessary talks, we will decide whether we want to stay in the deal or leave it,” he reiterated.

It should be noted that Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano also attended the JCPOA joint commission meeting to reiterate Iran's commitment to its obligations. It’s said that Amano’s presence was symbolic to show that only the IAEA can confirm a country's breach or commitment to its obligations.

In fact, IAEA in its 11th periodical report released on Thursday once again verified Iran's adherence to its nuclear deal with world powers.

Since Donald Trump's May 8 decision to quit the JCPOA, other signatories of the deal -- the UK, France, China, Russia and Germany-- have had a tough task on their hands to preserve it.

In this vein, while Russia and China have expressed unshakable support for the deal, the other three European governments have been torn between pleasing the US as a key ally and protecting their own interests in the profitable Iranian markets.

Trump has said he would reinstate all nuclear-related sanctions that were lifted under the deal, vowing to punish companies and countries that violate those and the harsher bans that will follow them shortly.