Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh spoke to reporters about the latest updates on the nuclear talks in Vienna between Iran and the world powers to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Khatibzadeh said lead negotiator Ali Bagheri had recently traveled back to Tehran to conduct “consultations,” specifically with the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). Khatibzadeh said the SNSC, which the president chairs, “leads the negotiations.” 

Khatibzadeh said that “the draft of the agreement had been ready and it was necessary to carefully review it.” He added, “Unfortunately on three or a few primary issues, the Western side and the US have not made a political decision.” One of Iran’s main talking points has been that they are ready to sign the deal and technical issues have been mostly resolved, but the United States needs to make “a political decision” to re-enter the deal. 

Despite the claims that primary issues remain, he claimed the draft was “98% written" and the remaining issues were related to the removal of sanctions, guarantees — presumably about another US withdrawal — and “political claims about Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.” Khatibzadeh said the text of the agreement continues to be the JCPOA, and the talks are between the original countries minus the United States in order to guarantee that the United States returns. The Trump administration exited the deal in 2018.