Iran ‘Very Optimistic’ about Nuke Deal, Says West and US to Blame if Talks Fail

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told CNN that he is “very optimistic” about reaching an agreement in ongoing talks with world powers in Vienna to revive a landmark 2015 agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.

He made the comments in an interview with Christiane Amanpour, who tweeted Saturday a short clip of her interview with Amir-Abdollahian during which he also said Western powers and the US would be to blame if the negotiations to save the faltering Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action were unsuccessful.

Recent remarks by senior officials from the countries that are party to the talks have indicated a deal could be reached soon, but that the way forward was delicate and agreement was still uncertain.

“We are very optimistic about the results of the Vienna talks,” Amir-Abdollahian said.

The Iranian minister explained that his confidence stemmed from Iran’s new president Ebrahim Raisi having a “serious will to achieve a good deal with the other side as a result of the Vienna talks.”

Amir-Abdollahian said the talks are at a “very sensitive time and the other side should be realistic and if the talks fail we believe it is the Americans and the other side that are responsible for it.”

Amir-Abdollahian also said Iran has shown “seriousness,” a word US officials have used to describe Washington’s expectation from the Iranians. Last week a US State Department Spokesperson said an agreement could be reached in days if Iran “shows seriousness.”

Source: Agencies