Vienna talks open ‘new chapter’: Rouhani

TEHRAN AFP, 7 April, 2021 - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that talks in Vienna on rescuing a troubled 2015 nuclear deal had opened a “new chapter”.   

An Iranian delegation met Tuesday with representatives of the remaining parties to the agreement to discuss how to bring Washington back into it and end crippling US sanctions and Iranian countermeasures.   

US President Joe Biden has said he is ready to reverse the decision of his predecessor Donald Trump to withdraw from the agreement and reimpose unilateral sanctions.  But differences remain over the mechanics of the move as Tehran has since responded by suspending compliance with some of its own obligations under the deal.   

The United States was not present at Tuesday’s discussions because Iran has refused to meet the US delegation so long as its sanctions remain in place.   

Instead, the European Union acted as an intermediary, but all sides gave a positive assessment of the opening talks.