EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell talks to the press as he arrives to attend an EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels, Feb. 22, 2021.
photo: Yves Herman/Pool/AFP
Amid a stalemate in negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, European Union Foreign Minister Josep Borrell presented a draft settlement on Iran's nuclear program and called on the parties involved in the Vienna talks to accept or face a "serious crisis."
In an article published in the Financial Times on Tuesday, Borrell wrote that the text "is not a perfect agreement," but it "represents the best agreement that I consider possible, as a mediator in negotiations."
He pointed out that the proposed solution "addresses all the basic elements and includes settlements that all parties obtained with difficulty." Borrel also warned that in case of refusal, "we risk a serious nuclear crisis."
Iranian chief negotiator Ali Bagheri wrote Tuesday on Twitter, "The coordinator (Josep Borrell) shared his thoughts on completing the negotiations. We also have our own ideas to complete the negotiations, whether in substance or form."
The agreement concluded in 2015 between Iran and six countries (the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China, and Germany) allowed the lifting of sanctions imposed on Tehran to restrict its nuclear activities and ensure the peace of its program.
However, its effects have become null and void since former US President Donald Trump withdrew unilaterally from it in 2018, re-imposing severe sanctions, which prompted Iran, after about a year, to begin gradually withdrawing from most of its basic nuclear commitments.
Iran and the powers affiliated with the agreement began discussions to revive it in April 2021 in Vienna, with the indirect participation of the United States and facilitated by the European Union.
Despite significant progress in the negotiations, the talks were suspended last March, with points of disagreement between Tehran and Washington that have not yet been resolved by those concerned with bridging the gap.
It is noteworthy that Josep Borrell visited Tehran on June 25 to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian. The two officials then announced the resumption of talks "in the coming days" in Vienna.
Borrell's compromise deals "in detail" with lifting sanctions against Iran and the nuclear measures needed to revive the nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.