New Delhi: The parties to the Iran nuclear deal will convene in Vienna next week to discuss the possibility of lifting sanctions on Iran and the country’s responsibility for further implementing the agreement, the European Union said after a meeting on Friday.
Representatives of the parties to the the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — France, Germany, Russia, Britain, China and Iran– met virtually and “agreed to resume this session of the Joint Commission in Vienna next week, in order to clearly identify sanctions lifting and nuclear implementation measures,” the EU said in a statement.
“In line with the joint ministerial statement of 21 December participants recognised the prospect of a full return of the US to the JCPOA, and underlined their readiness to positively address this in a joint effort. Participants also emphasised their commitment to preserve the JCPOA and discussed modalities to ensure the return to its full and effective implementation,” said the EU.
“Participants agreed to resume this session of the Joint Commission in Vienna next week, in order to clearly identify sanctions lifting and nuclear implementation measures, including through convening meetings of the relevant expert groups. In this context, the coordinator will also intensify separate contacts in Vienna with all JCPOA participants and the United States,” the statement said.
Earlier this week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with his iranian counterparts Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the Heart of Asia conference in Tajik capital Dushanbe.
“Began my Heart of Asia engagements with a meeting with Iranian FM @JZarif. A warm conversation that underlined our convergences,” he said in a tweet.
“Also discussed our bilateral cooperation, including Chabahar,” he added.
Friday’s online meeting was chaired on behalf of EU High Representative Josep Borrell, by the EEAS Deputy Secretary General Enrique Mora and was attended by representatives of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and Iran at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers/Political Directors.
