Moscow (IP) - Stressing that the Biden administration was sending hopeful messages about the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Russian Foreign Minister said that JCPOA member states were working on the simultaneous return of Iran and the US to the agreement.

Iran PressEurope: Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said during a meeting in Moscow on Wednesday that there were two issues about the revival of JCPOA.

He added: "The first issue is that Iran wants all sanctions to be lifted first and then return to its obligations. But the United States has stated that Iran must first implement its obligations under JCPOA, and then Washington will decide on its obligations.”

The Russian Foreign Minister added: "The second issue is the so-called JCPOA Plus, which is suggested that changes should be made to the original form of JCPOA, including the issue of Iran's missile program."

"We believe that such an approach would lead to a stalemate," Lavrov said. "Russia wants the revival of JCPOA without any changes."

Earlier on Monday, Politico claimed in a report citing two people familiar with the situation that the Biden administration officials, mindful of the increasingly unfavorable calendar, plan to put forth a new proposal to jump-start the talks as soon as this week.

According to the report, the proposal asks Iran to halt some of its nuclear activities, such as work on advanced centrifuges and the enrichment of uranium to 20 percent purity, in exchange for some relief from US economic sanctions, said one of the people, who stressed that the details are still being worked out.

It’s not at all certain that Iran will accept the terms. Earlier this year, Tehran rejected a US proposal it deemed unacceptable, then offered its own idea that Biden’s team declared a non-starter, two people familiar with the situation told Politico.

In reaction to the report, the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic to the United Nations reiterated that no proposal is needed for the US to rejoin the JCPOA. “It only requires a political decision…”

Also, a senior security official told Iran Press on Monday that Iran will stop 20-percent uranium enrichment only if the US sanctions are lifted.

"20-percent uranium enrichment is in line with Paragraph 36 of the JCPOA and will be stopped only if the US lifts all the sanctions," the official said on Monday evening.

"The Biden administration is losing time, and if it fails to lift the sanctions soon, Iran will take the next steps, which will be a further reduction of its JCPOA commitments," the official added. 

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