Tehran Defends Its Second Response to EU Draft Proposal

The price of the dollar crossed the barrier of 300,000 riyals in the free currency market in Tehran yesterday (Archives - EPA)
The price of the dollar crossed the barrier of 300,000 riyals in the free currency market in Tehran yesterday (Archives - EPA)
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Tehran Defends Its Second Response to EU Draft Proposal

The price of the dollar crossed the barrier of 300,000 riyals in the free currency market in Tehran yesterday (Archives - EPA)
The price of the dollar crossed the barrier of 300,000 riyals in the free currency market in Tehran yesterday (Archives - EPA)

Tehran, for the second time since the EU presented its draft for reviving the Iran nuclear deal, has given a response to Western parties. Iranian officials are defending the context of Iran’s response at a time when supporters of a deal warn that the diplomatic window that has been open since 2021 could close.

Iran had sent a second response through the EU Coordinator Enrique Mora, following the US introducing amendments to the EU proposed draft.

Iranian state media said the response was “in writing,” and that “the text sent has a positive approach with the aim of completing the negotiations.”

In a Friday statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said that the country’s top diplomat, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, had reviewed the latest developments in negotiations with his Omani counterpart, Badr al Busaidi.

Abdollahian emphasized Iran’s will to achieve a good, strong, and sustainable agreement.

“In the process of preparing the response of Iran, speeding up and facilitating the conclusion of negotiations has been considered,” the Iranian chief diplomat said.

The state-run ISNA news agency had quoted the last statement made by Abdollahian hours earlier, during a brief comment on Tehran's response to Washington.

“I openly announced that Iran is ready to hold a ministerial meeting to announce the final agreement next week, if the final agreement is reached and the few demands put forward by Iran are met,” said the foreign minister.

Commenting on French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent statements on hopes for reaching an agreement within the coming days, ISNA said that Macron’s statements “come in continuation of Western countries’ efforts to increase pressure on public opinion against Iran to accept an agreement in the Vienna negotiations, without presenting reliable guarantees from other signatories.”



Tehran Ready for Negotiations with Washington ‘Based on Trust’

Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani. (Jamaran news)
Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani. (Jamaran news)
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Tehran Ready for Negotiations with Washington ‘Based on Trust’

Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani. (Jamaran news)
Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani. (Jamaran news)

The Iranian government stated on Tuesday that upcoming negotiations in Geneva over its nuclear program will be guided by the directives of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the interests of the Iranian people.

Iran plans to hold talks on Friday in Geneva with France, Britain and Germany, following a recent resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) censuring Tehran for its lack of cooperation on its nuclear activities.

Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani confirmed that the meeting between Iran’s deputy foreign minister and representatives from the three European nations will proceed under the framework of “national interests as emphasized by the Supreme Leader.” She noted that discussions will encompass bilateral, regional and international issues, including the crises in Gaza and Lebanon and broader efforts to promote peace in the region.

Asked about the possibility of direct negotiations with the United States, Mohajerani stated that Tehran is “open to considering any proposal aligned with its national interests.” However, she stressed that “dialogue requires respect and trust, which cannot be built through mere rhetoric.”

Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for International Affairs, will lead the Iranian delegation at the Geneva talks, according to Iranian media.

Media outlets close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) expressed cautious optimism about the Geneva talks, but tempered expectations. The IRGC-affiliated Nour News described the meeting as a “small but significant opportunity for both sides to find common ground and reduce unnecessary tensions that have strained their relations in recent years.”

Both Iran and its European counterparts appear inclined to pursue de-escalation and resume diplomatic channels to resolve disputes, it reported. Analysts quoted by the site characterized the talks as “an essential step in rebuilding trust between Iran and Europe.” If sustained, these efforts could end the two-year stalemate in negotiations over the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The IAEA’s Board of Governors recently passed a resolution urging Iran to increase its cooperation with the agency. The resolution called for the IAEA Director General to deliver “a comprehensive and updated assessment on the possible presence or use of undeclared nuclear materials in connection with Iran’s past and current nuclear activities.”

Western powers, including the United States, France, Britain and Germany, dismissed Iran’s last-minute proposal to limit its stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium—close to weapons-grade—as “inadequate and insincere.”

In response, Iran announced the activation of advanced centrifuges at its Fordow and Natanz uranium enrichment facilities.

Despite the heightened tensions, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei underscored Tehran’s commitment to a policy of engagement and cooperation. He framed the upcoming talks as a continuation of discussions held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Iranian media claimed that Tehran has refrained from actions that could complicate negotiations in recent months. However, they accused European powers of taking “unconstructive measures” that have hindered the diplomatic process.