Iran says it’s sticking to stance slammed by Western powers as backtrack

Iran’s top negotiator at the Vienna nuclear talks says Tehran hasn’t backed down from its basic position, which has been slammed by Western countries as backtracking on previous compromises and endangering the talks aimed at restoring the 2015 nuclear deal.

“Iran underlined that it is seriously continuing the talks based on its previous position,” Ali Bagheri Kani tells reporters, according to Reuters, after talks renewed today and were called off after an hour. “Iran is serious about reaching an agreement if the ground is paved (towards a deal)… The fact all sides want the talks to continue shows that all parties want to narrow the gaps.”

Enrique Mora, the European Union’s coordinator for the talks who chaired the meeting, says the sides “don’t have all the time in the world,” adding: “What I felt this morning was from… all delegations a renewed sense of purpose in the need to work and to reach an agreement on bringing the JCPOA back to life.”