Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told TASS on Wednesday that the work on restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program in the Vienna format is almost over but not all issues have been resolved so far.
"The work in the Vienna format on restoring the JCPOA is almost over. Not all issues have been closed yet, but intensive contacts on various lines continue. The Russian delegation is working closely and productively with colleagues," Ryabkov said.
Timing of the ministerial meeting
The format and timing of the ministerial meeting on the JCPOA on Iran's nuclear program should be set after the negotiators have fully completed their work, Ryabkov said.
"We are in favor of the negotiators completing their work in full first. Then we can consider the format and specific dates of the ministerial meeting," the deputy minister said.
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna, said Tuesday that a ministerial meeting of the Joint Commission on the Iran nuclear deal as part of the final stage of negotiations to restore it could take place as early as this week or next week.
The Joint Commission on the implementation of the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program includes Russia, Britain, Germany, China, Iran, and France. Prior to the withdrawal from the deal, it also included the United States.
The JCPOA was signed with Iran in 2015 to address the crisis over its nuclear developments by the permanent five of the UN Security Council and Germany. In 2018, then Republican US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the deal. Current US leader Joe Biden has repeatedly signaled a willingness to bring Washington back into the nuclear deal with Tehran. Russia, Britain, Germany, China, the US and France have been negotiating with Iran in Vienna since last April to restore the JCPOA to its original form.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation / TASS
Based on materials from TASS