It seems there are no signs indicating a resumption of the nuclear negotiations "soon" in Vienna, following the visit of European coordinator Enrique Mora to Tehran yesterday and his meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Ali Baghéri. He is expected to supervise the negotiating team upon returning to the negotiating table in the Austrian capital, if it happens.
Despite the EU coordinator's emphasis on the importance of his visit, especially given the sensitive timing, American sources have indicated that they do not expect the visit to yield tangible results concerning the resumption of nuclear negotiations, according to a Wall Street Journal correspondent in Brussels today. This is perhaps evidenced by the subsequent facts and statements.
**Positive Discussion, However**
The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that the discussions with Mora were "positive" regarding negotiations aimed at reviving the Iranian nuclear agreement. However, it also confirmed that this dialogue will continue in Brussels over the next two weeks, indicating that there will be no return to Vienna in the near future. The statement noted that Mora conveyed "the EU's readiness to cooperate with Iran and other parties to continue the talks to reach an outcome acceptable to all parties." Both sides agreed "to continue discussions in the coming days in Brussels."
**Russia Urges a Return**
Simultaneously, Russia continued to urge the resumption of talks, stressing that there is no alternative, especially with the increasing firmness of the American tone recently and Washington's hints at "other options" if Tehran does not return quickly to the negotiating table. This European visit became a focal point of a conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, as announced by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
**Pragmatic Solutions?!**
It was reported that Amir-Abdollahian said the talks with Mora were "positive," and both parties wish to continue them to "reach pragmatic solutions for the current issues" related to the Vienna negotiations. He mentioned that the Brussels meeting would be held "within the next two weeks." However, the Iranian minister did not elaborate on what was meant by pragmatic solutions, noting that his country had previously demanded the lifting of all American sanctions imposed on it, in addition to the release of some Iranian assets abroad as a goodwill gesture.
Mora confirmed late Wednesday that he would emphasize in Tehran the "urgent necessity to resume negotiations," considering his visit to be at a "critical" time. It is noteworthy that the Western countries still part of the agreement made between Tehran and the major powers in 2015 (France, Britain, Russia, China, and Germany), from which the U.S. withdrew three years ago, have continuously urged a return to negotiations in the Austrian capital after talks halted in June following six rounds that did not lead to an agreement on all outstanding issues.
