The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, has indicated that verification and guarantees would be among the things needed to reach an agreement to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal.
This comes at a time when British Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss has informed her Iranian counterpart that it is time for final decisions regarding the Iran nuclear deal.
“Verification and providing a guarantee is an integral part of a good deal,” Shamkhani said on Twitter.
“The real lifting of sanctions means that Iran will enjoy credible and sustainable economic benefits,” he added.
“Proven American malpractice is the most important threat to any agreement,” Shamkhani noted, a few days after accusing the West of dodging commitments by pretending to take initiatives.
Iran has previously said that it needs a verification process for lifting Western sanctions and guarantees that the United States will not again leave the agreement and that it honors its commitments.
The original deal lifted sanctions against Tehran in exchange for significant restrictions on its nuclear activities. The sanctions were reimposed after then-US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018.
Iran continues to insist on the lifting of sanctions as the first condition for reviving the deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Talks have been taking place in Vienna to revive the JCPOA. Direct talks with Iran involve negotiators from Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia. The United States is taking part indirectly.
Moreover, Truss spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Monday, telling him it was time for final decisions, a Foreign Office statement said.
Truss also reiterated her determination to secure the release of British nationals detained in Iran. The Foreign Office said the government was committed to paying a historical debt owed to Iran and was exploring payment options as a matter of urgency.
