Iran demands a commitment that the United States will not walk away from the nuclear deal signed with world powers in 2015, the country’s new chief negotiator and deputy foreign minister told the Guardian.

Ali Bagheri Kani also said talks in Vienna between Iran and other signatories failed to reach agreement on a way to verify that US sanctions had both been lifted and had practical impact. on trade with Iran.

“We need verification, and it remains unresolved. This is one of the issues that is still unresolved. It’s not enough that ink is put on the deal, ”he said. Bagheri Kani did not rule out that an independent body could be in charge of the verification.

The Vienna talks are expected to resume at the end of the month after being suspended by Iran, following the election in June of a new hard-line president, Ebrahim Raisi. Bagheri Kani is on tour in European capitals to expose Iran’s negotiating position.

Iran has said it will not resume its own measures to fully comply with the deal until verification of US actions is ensured. Iran has increased its uranium stocks and the use of advanced centrifuges beyond the limits set in the agreement. He restricted the access of the UN nuclear inspectorate.

Defending his demand that the United States give a guarantee that it will respect the agreement, Bagheri Kani said: “This is an agreement and not a policy. If there is a peace agreement between two states, it has the effect of a treaty. It is international law. It is not intended that the national laws of the United States can prevail over an international agreement. It is against international law. “

He added that he wanted European powers to give their own guarantees that they will trade with Iran regardless of the US position, possibly using a blocking law that negates the effect of US sanctions on them. European companies that do business with Iran.

Bagheri Kani has denied that Iran has delayed resuming talks in an attempt to develop its own nuclear program, saying it was natural for a new government to take the time to prepare its negotiating position and hold bilateral talks with the other parties.

The minister reiterated his calls for the lifting of all US sanctions linked to the nuclear deal. Iran considers the sanctions that the United States says were imposed for Iranian acts of terrorism or human rights violations to be linked to the nuclear deal and should therefore be lifted.

He also ruled out talks about Iran’s missile and security program being included in the deal. He said: “The JCPOA has a clear framework and the other issues are irrelevant. We are not going to negotiate on our defense capabilities or our security.

He added: “Iran’s relations with other countries did not need a guardian. “

He denied that his negotiating position was so tough that it would be impossible to reach an agreement in Vienna. “We’re just saying that according to the JCPOA, the sanctions should be lifted. We have reached an agreement and we believe it should be implemented. “

When asked if he was demanding that the Vienna talks resume early on, he said: “What’s important is not where we started, but what is important is that we come to an agreement that has practical results for the parties. Our main goal is to lift the illegal sanctions they have imposed on the Iranian nation in violation of UN resolutions. Any sanction in violation of the JCPOA imposed by Presidents Obama and Trump must be lifted. This is the agreement established by the JCPOA.