Confusion reigns ahead of US-Iran indirect talks in Vienna

Islam Mohamed

Confusion continues to reign over relations between Washington and Tehran.

The latter wants US sanctions on it to be lifted, whereas the former wants to use the sanctions as a bargaining card to extend the scope of the nuclear deal with Iran.

The US wants to restrict Iran’s ability to use ballistic missiles and expand its influence in the region.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman

Saeed Khatibzadeh said on April 3 that his country wants the US to lift the economic sanctions it imposed on it years ago.

He added that Iran wants the sanctions lift before negotiations start in Vienna after few days to revive the nuclear deal with Iran.

France has, meanwhile, called on Iran to demonstrate goodwill ahead of negotiations in the Austrian capital.

These negotiations, it said, would be part of larger ones on the Iranian nuclear file.

Iran and the United States had earlier announced that they would hold indirect talks in Vienna on Tuesday, within efforts to revive the nuclear deal between Iran and Western countries.

Tehran ruled out the possibility of conducting direct talks with the United States.

However, the expected indirect talks in Vienna are expected to refocus minds on efforts made now to ensure Iran’s abidance by the terms of the nuclear deal with Western states.

Washington has welcomed the talks and described them as a good step on the right track.

A European diplomatic source said Iranian and American negotiators will be present in Vienna at the time of the negotiations.

They will not, however, sit together in the same room, he said.