Iran Press/ Iran News: The eighth round of talks on the removal of anti-Iranian sanctions resumed on Dec. 27 in the Austrian capital of Vienna. Representatives from China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain, and Iran negotiate in Vienna to bring the JCPOA back.
The United States is involved in the talks indirectly.
Speaking in his presser on Monday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said: "What we see in Vienna talks (P4+1) is progress in four areas, and the parentheses have been reduced, and ideas have become words."
"All parties have agreed that the US should not withdraw from the nuclear deal again," at the same time, he added.
Speaking at the First National Conference of Iran and Neighbors, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Iran's negotiations over the nuclear program with 4+1 are direct, and the US is non-paper and via Enrique Mora.
"Iran tries to extend ties with its 15 neighbors," the minister also highlighted.
Amir-Abdollahian noted: 13th administration is trying to prioritize its ties with neighboring countries.
He said that Iran aims to expand ties with its neighbors to stabilize and increase welfare security and meet all countries' interests, adding that implementing the policy will improve it.
If Saudi Arabia comes to the right diplomacy track, Iran will get back to regular ties with, he said.
He also said that traveling to Moscow has significant achievements, adding Iran and Russia have agreed to sign a meaningful long-term agreement.
Iran's Foreign Minister added that Tehran is active and has extensive ties with the West and East.
The top diplomat noted Iran's President would trip to a neighboring country soon.
The conference also hosted the Economic Affairs and Finance Minister Ehsan Khandouzi, Ahmad Vahidi, Iran's Interior Minister, and Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top military adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Monday, each of whom delivered a speech in the morning at the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) on Jan. 24, 2022.
Since taking office in August, the new Iranian administration has constantly stressed that expanding relations with neighbors and Asian countries is a top priority of its foreign policy.
Iran- United States direct talks possible
"If we reach a stage in the negotiation process where a good agreement is needed to have a dialogue with the United States, we will not ignore it," Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in the closing ceremony of the Conference on Iran and Neighbors.
"The US has sent messages calling for direct talks with Iran. Our talks with the United States are taking place through Mora and one or two JCPOA signatories in Vienna," the top diplomat added.
"So far, the behavior of the three European countries has been like that when it comes to sanctions, they refer them to the United States. When it comes to nuclear issues, they say that is a matter that worries them," he added on the approach of the E3 during the ongoing talks in Vienna.
"Our criticism of the three European countries is that they have not taken any forward-looking and constructive initiatives, but they have tried to play a constructive role in the negotiations in recent weeks. Even today, France does not play the role of a bad cop. China and Russia are trying to play a constructive role in the negotiations and these two countries are active in conveying the issues," the top diplomat added.
Regarding Yemen, the minister said, "These days, something is happening between Yemen and one of the neighbors. What is between Yemen and some of its neighbors and countries participating in military operations is a Yemeni issue. Iran has presented a four-faceted political plan on different occasions since the beginning of the Yemeni crisis and has called for following it. We are concerned about the escalation of the war and call on Saudi Arabia and the UAE to take a political and constructive approach to end the humanitarian blockade, end the war and accept the Yemeni-Yemeni talks as the continuation of the ongoing situation is not in the interest of the region."
He went on to talk about talks with Saudi Arabia and said, "We have kept the door open for Saudi Arabia. Whenever Saudi Arabia decides to return its diplomatic relations with Iran to an average level, we welcome the reopening of embassies, the return of links to normal, and even the expansion of ties with Saudi Arabia. We are pleased that three of our diplomats were stationed in Jeddah a few days ago.
Saudi Arabia must now decide when to open the two countries' embassies. We welcome a new round of talks, and we would like to point out that returning relations to the average level requires political decision-making as a necessity. We in the new government have decided that Saudi Arabia can take the necessary steps to restore ties with Iran whenever it concludes", the minister said.
FM announces Erdogan's impending visit to Iran
Iran's Foreign Minister announces the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Iran in a near future.
"Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will pay an official visit to Tehran," Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stated in response to the Iran Press on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the First National Conference of Iran and Neighbors without mentioning the exact date:
.Iran's Foreign Minister said that the last meeting of Ebrahim Raisi, Iran's President, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan occurred on the sidelines of the ECO Summit, held in Ashgabat where both agreed that the High Commission for Cooperation of Iran and Turkey be held in Tehran.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed hope that Iran would hold the summit soon.
The top diplomat said: We may hold the trilateral meeting of Astana, SCO Summit simultaneously, but everything depends on the coronavirus pandemic's status. The 1st National Conference of Iran and Neighbors warped up with the attendance of Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
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