IAEA Calls for Transparency from Iran as Vienna Talks Set to Resume

In a last-ditch effort to revive talks over Tehran’s tattered 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, the US, Iran, and the European Union have sent representatives to Vienna for an unexpected and sudden resumption of talks on Thursday.

It wasn’t immediately clear if there had been any progress after a monthslong stalemate and fruitless round of indirect talks between Iran and the US in Doha or if other parties to the landmark accord would attend the surprise summit, though there have been rumors of China, Russia, Germany, Britain, and France also sending representatives.

According to Enrique Mora, the EU official who’s in charge of coordinating the talks, the negotiations would focus on the most recent draft to restore the deal.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Naser Kanani said that Iran’s negotiating team headed by the chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri-Kani is preparing for a discussion and exchange of views regarding the ideas presented by the different parties, including those presented by Iran.

Kanaani also noted that Tehran was ready to reach a deal that guarantees its rights, but the UN nuclear watchdog warned on Tuesday that it’ll take more than good words from Iran to satisfy international inspectors.

According to Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Tehran has to be transparent about its nuclear program – which is moving ahead very fast – for any progress to be made.

The US expectations are also in check over negotiations, the US Special Representative for Iran Rob Malley cautioned in a message on Twitter announcing his trip to Vienna for the talks.

The deal’s restoration prospects have darkened in the past few months and the abruptly called meeting in Vienna stems from the EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell’s repeated pushing to break the deadlock and salvage the deal.

The fact is that major sticking points are remaining, including Tehran’s request for guarantees that Washington won’t again quit the pact and that it lifts terrorism sanctions on Iran’s IRGC.