TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell exchanged views on the status of talks on the removal of sanctions and other issues related to relations between Tehran and the bloc in a phone conversation on Friday.

During the conversation, Amir Abdollahian reiterated Tehran’s determination to reach a good, solid and lasting nuclear deal.

He then pointed out that a recent decision by the United States and the European troika (France, United Kingdom and Germany) to prepare a draft resolution at the UN atomic watchdog against Iran is a “undiplomatic, hasty and unconstructive behavior that will only make the process of discussions more difficult and complicated.

Amir Abdollahian pointed to a law approved by the Iranian parliament warning that any initiative by the United States and the European troika at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will certainly receive an appropriate, effective and immediate response from Iran. .

However, the head of Iranian diplomacy thanked Borrell for his efforts and reiterated Iran’s readiness and firm determination to continue the talks until they are concluded in a realistic way that would be accepted by all parts.

Amir Abdollahian further referred to the destructive maneuvers of the Israeli regime, which itself is the world’s main culprit in illegal nuclear activities.

The senior Iranian diplomat added that the trip of IAEA Director General, Rafael Grossi, to Tel Aviv before the next meeting of the Board of Governors of the UN nuclear watchdog is contrary to the principle of neutrality and to the technical and professional capacity of the body.

For his part, Borrell criticized efforts by some parties to derail the talks.

He also underlined the need to accelerate efforts for the talks to succeed and lead to an agreement.

Borrell stressed the need to continue consultations to move away from the current negative atmosphere at the IAEA and to focus on continuing negotiations so that all parties return to their commitments under the nuclear agreement, known as the JCPOA.

During the conversation, Amir Abdollahian and Borrell also stressed the need for the IAEA to act professionally and remain neutral.

After the conversation, Borrell tweeted, “Spoke to @Amirabdolahian again. The possibility of making a deal and returning to the #JCPOA is shrinking. But we can always do it with extra effort. As coordinator, I stand ready at all times to facilitate a solution to the last outstanding issues.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh also warned against Israeli provocative acts within the IAEA.

“As one of the first signatories of the NPT, Iran calls on all to beware of a further erosion of the credibility of the IAEA. No one can remain silent about Israel’s clandestine nuclear weapons program and then claim impartiality and talk about Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities,” the spokesperson wrote in a tweet late Thursday.