EU-Iran nuclear talks set to resume in the 'coming days'
The European Union (EU) and Iran announced Saturday that stalled nuclear talks would resume "in the coming days", following a surprise visit to Tehran by the bloc's foreign police chief.
Head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrel, who has pushed to break the diplomatic deadlock, made the announcement with the Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian at a press conference in the Iranian capital.
Talks between Iran and the major powers - Russia, United States, China, France, United Kingdom and Germany - over Tehran's nuclear programme have stagnated since March.
A key obstacle to the discussions has been tension between US and Iranian officials, with each side blaming the other for the stalemate.
The purpose of the talks is to revive the 2015 JCPOA pact, which placed limitations on Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
In 2018, then-US President Donald Trump pulled out of the deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on the country, despite broad Iranian compliance to its terms.
Since then, Iran has reigned on a number of aspects of the deal, putting it into conflict with the US.
Concluded by Iran and the six powers, the JCPOA aims to guarantee the civilian nature of Tehran's nuclear program, in exchange for a gradual lifting of sanctions that have suffocated the Iranian economy.
Iran has been accused of developing nuclear technology for atomic weapons - something it denies, insisting the technology is primarily for peaceful purposes.
"We are prepared to resume talks in the coming days," said Amir-Abdollahian. "What is important for Iran is to fully receive the economic benefits of the 2015 accord," describing Saturday's meeting as "long but positive".
The JCPOA appeared close to being revived in
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