Abdollahian: Steps towards reviving the nuclear deal are in right direction

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said in a phone conversation with the EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell on Friday that the steps taken to reach an agreement to revive the 2015 nuclear deal were in the right direction.

“Despite some conflicting media statements by the American side, the steps to reach an agreement were on the right path,” Abdollahian said, noting cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on technical issues in this regard.

On the recent developments in Iran, the Iranian top diplomat condemned the policies of the western countries that incite riots in Iran, pointing out that these countries adopt a double standard policy as regards to riot acts.

The most violent confrontation with riots is considered good and proper in Europe, but the same approach is considered a crackdown in Iran, he clarified, stressing that peaceful demonstration is different from a riot, killing, arson, and terrorist acts.

On his part, Borrel expressed consent over the progress made in reviving the JCPOA and highlighted the importance of cooperation between the IAEA and Iran.

He noted the progress achieved in New York and Vienna during negotiations on lifting the blockade on Iran, stressing that the EU doesn’t intend to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs and that cooperation between Iran and the EU is a necessity.

Hamda Mustafa