Araqchi nixes notion of ‘temporary agreement’ amid JCPOA revival talks

Countering false reports in some Western media outlets, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi insisted that the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the P4+1 group of countries featured no talking points such as a “temporary agreement” or similar subject matters, IRNA reported on Tuesday.

The P4+1 refers to Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany -- the remaining members of the nuclear deal, which is officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The talks were launched on April 6 with the aim of potentially revitalizing the deal and returning the United States to it.

Washington left the JCPOA in 2018 and restored the economic sanctions that the accord had lifted. Tehran returned the American side and others’ non-commitment to the deal with remedial nuclear measures that it is entitled to take under the JCPOA’s Paragraph 36.

The Islamic Republic has insisted that it would only stop its adherence to the JCPOA paragraph once the US lifted all the sanctions in one step and after Iran has verified that the sanction relief has actually taken place.

Araqchi underlined that Iran only uses the talks to discuss the potential of that “final step” towards elimination of the oppressive sanctions.

Therefore, any rumors suggesting the likelihood of a modus vivendi or a step-for-a-step attitude towards the nuclear deal’s restoration were to be ruled out, the official again insisted.

The negotiator also reminded an advisory by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in which the Leader recently warned against Iran’s entanglement in drawn-out negotiations.

Nor would the Islamic Republic try to rush its desired result, Araqchi said, adding that the country treads carefully while engaging in the talks and strives to safeguard its interests and definitive positions.

The Iranian diplomat said the negotiating team reports constantly to Tehran, where any decisions concerning the process and result of the negotiations are taken.

Over the recent days, some remarks have been made by some diplomats attending the talks, including Araqchi himself, pointing out that the negotiations were “progressing well.”

Addressing a press conference in the Iranian capital on Monday, however, Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh underscored that the talks were tough and had not reached any final conclusion yet.