High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, told reporters that there would be no ministerial meeting among the UK, China, France, Germany, Russia, and Iran at the United Nations to discuss possible ways to revive the stalled nuclear talks.
Previously, it was reported that officials had negotiated to organize a ministerial meeting between the parties of the 2015 nuclear deal on Wednesday on the sidelines of the annual United Nations summit of world leaders.
EU foreign policy chief Borrell, who has also served as the coordinator for the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), stated that such a meeting is not on the agenda.
Yet, Borrell emphasized, “But the important thing is not this ministerial meeting, but the will of all parties to resume negotiations in Vienna.” The senior diplomat also added that he would come together with Iran’s new Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Tuesday.
The nuclear talks in Vienna were stalled in June after hardliner judiciary Ebrahim Raisi won the presidential election. Taking office in August, Raisi is in favor of reviving the 2015 nuclear deal. Borrell stated that resuming the stalled nuclear talks as soon as possible would be top on the agenda during his meeting with the Iranian foreign minister.
In his remarks, Borrell told reporters that, “after the elections, the new presidency asked for the delay to take full stock of the negotiations and understand everything better about this sensitive file,” adding, “the summer has already passed by, and we expect that the talks can resume soon in Vienna.”
On Monday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian gave the impression that a ministerial meeting between the parties of the nuclear deal would be held by saying, “We need to take advantage of this week to restart these talks. Iran must accept to return as quickly as possible by appointing its representatives for the negotiations.”
