Iran in 'hurry' to reach nuclear agreement, says foreign minister
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian called on the West to stop "playing with time" in Vienna.
Iran called for the quick resurrection of the landmark nuclear deal in Vienna, accusing the United States and other Western powers of “playing with time” and failing to make necessary concessions.
"If an agreement is reached in Vienna today and sanctions are lifted, it would be better for Iran if this happens tomorrow," Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in a news conference. "Tehran is in a hurry to reach agreement in Vienna, but this should be within the framework of our national interest," he said Monday, according to Iran's semi-official ISNA.
Why it matters: As Amir-Abdollahian called for a swift resolution, the irony was not lost on some observers who pointed out that Iran forced a five-month pause in the talks following the election of hard-line Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in June. When talks did resume in late November, Iran’s negotiating team reportedly came to the table with fresh demands.
The United States and Iran are now conducting an eighth and possibly final round of indirect talks aimed at salvaging the nuclear deal. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action set curbs on the country’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
