VIENNA, Feb 28 (Reuters) – Iran said on Monday efforts to revive a 2015 nuclear deal could succeed if the United States makes a political move to meet Tehran’s demands, as months of talks enter in what an Iranian diplomat called “now or never”. stage.

The stakes are high, as the failure of 10 months of talks would risk a new regional war and the imposition of additional harsh sanctions on Iran by the West.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman identified the remaining outstanding issues as: the extent to which sanctions would be rolled back, ensuring the United States would not leave the pact again, and resolving questions on the trail of the pact. uranium found at several ancient but undeclared sites in Iran.

All parties involved in the talks say progress has been made toward restoring the pact to curb Tehran’s nuclear program in return for sanctions relief, which the United States abandoned in 2018. But Tehran and Washington cautioned that there are still significant differences. surpass.

“Achieving a good deal is possible… three key issues remain to be resolved. The American and European powers have not made political decisions on these major issues,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said. foreigners, Saeed Khatibzadeh, during a weekly press conference.

The French foreign ministry said on Monday there was an urgent need to conclude the talks this week. Read more

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani, who traveled to Tehran last week for consultations on the final draft of the deal, will meet on Monday with the European Union’s Enrique Mora, who is coordinating the talks in Vienna.

Two sources familiar with the talks in Vienna say Iran has submitted new demands, while continuing to insist on existing demands, including the removal of a US Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designation against the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC).

“Iran’s stance after Bagheri’s trip to Tehran has become even more intransigent…they are now insisting on lifting sanctions against the IRGC and want to open up issues that had already been agreed upon,” said one. sources.

Diplomats said the talks had entered a crucial phase, given Iran’s intransigent policy in the talks and the other parties’ involvement in the Ukraine crisis.

“It’s now or never. If they don’t reach an agreement this week, the talks will fail forever,” an Iranian diplomat in Tehran said.

The Guards are a powerful faction in Iran that controls a business empire as well as elite armed forces and intelligence services. Dozens of its commanders hold high-ranking positions in President Ebrahim Raisi’s hardline government.

Washington’s FTO designation of the guards in 2019, which was the first time the United States officially labeled part of another sovereign government a terrorist group, caused further problems for Iran’s sanctions-hit economy.

Tehran is also insisting that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) drop its claims about Tehran’s nuclear work, opposing a claim by the UN nuclear watchdog last year that Tehran had not fully explained the presence of traces of uranium found at several undeclared sites.

“We answered the agency’s questions. But instead of closing the politically motivated case, they are using it to gain leverage in the talks,” an Iranian official said in Tehran.

Iran’s sworn enemy Israel has pushed for a tough policy if diplomacy fails to curb Iran’s nuclear work. Tehran has warned of an “overwhelming” response in the event of an attack.

In reaction to then-US President Donald Trump’s reimposition of sanctions after he abandoned the deal in 2018, Tehran breached the pact’s nuclear limits.

Additional reporting by John Irish in Paris Writing by Parisa Hafezi Editing by Peter Graff, William Maclean

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