Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian speaks to the media during a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov following their talks in Moscow, Russia, Aug 31, 2022. (MAXIM SHEMETOV / POOL / AP)
TEHRAN / GENEVA – The Iranian foreign minister said on Tuesday that Iran was ready to conclude the Vienna talks on the revival of a 2015 nuclear deal on the basis of the final draft produced after months of negotiations.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a two-hour meeting with the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on the sidelines of a regional conference in Amman, capital of Jordan, according to a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website.
Amir-Abdollahian urged other parties to the nuclear deal to adopt "constrictive and realistic approaches" and refrain from politicizing the issue.
For his part, Borrell agreed that the revival of the nuclear deal and negotiations to this end are separate from other issues on the agenda.
The meeting was also attended by Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani and EU coordinator for the nuclear talks Enrique Mora.
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Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Tuesday condemned Iran's support for Russia in its war in Ukraine and the ongoing repression of opposition in the country, but said the EU would continue to work with Iran on restoring the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
The talks on the JCPOA's revival began in April 2021 in Vienna. No breakthrough was achieved after the latest round of talks in early August
"Necessary meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in Jordan amidst deteriorating Iran-EU relations," Borrell tweeted ahead of a regional conference being hosted by Jordan.
"Stressed need to immediately stop military support to Russia and internal repression in Iran. Agreed we must keep communication open and restore JCPOA on basis of Vienna negotiations."
Separately, a group of United Nations (UN) human rights experts said Tuesday in a joint statement that US sanctions against Iran are contributing to environmental harm and preventing people from fully enjoying their right to health and life in the country.
"It is no surprise that Tehran is one of the world's most polluted cities. US sanctions force people to prolong the use of older vehicles that burn fuel less efficiently, while making it impossible for Iran to obtain equipment and technology to reduce vehicle emissions," the experts said.
Air pollution is causing higher levels of respiratory and other diseases, they said, leading to 4,000 premature deaths per year in Tehran and 40,000 premature deaths annually across Iran.
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The experts added that the sanctions have caused foreign energy companies to abandon projects to build large solar power plants in Iran.
European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell attends the Informal EU 27 Summit and Meeting within the European Political Community at Prague Castle, in Prague, Czech Republic, Oct 7, 2022. (DAVID W CERNY / REUTERS)
The sanctions also prevent Iranian scientists from engaging in joint environmental research projects abroad, and prevent Iranians from accessing online databases and courses about environmental issues and sustainability, they added.
The UN General Assembly recognized the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in a resolution it passed in July 2022, and the United States voted in favor of this resolution.
The UN experts that issued Tuesday's joint statement include Alena Douhan, UN Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, and Ian Fry, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change.
Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to curb its nuclear program in return for the removal of the sanctions on the country. The United States, however, pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and reimposed its unilateral sanctions on Iran, prompting the latter to drop some of its nuclear commitments under the deal.
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The talks on the JCPOA's revival began in April 2021 in Vienna. No breakthrough was achieved after the latest round of talks in early August.