Iran’s foreign minister blamed the US for the failure of indirect talks sponsored by the EU in the Qatari capital, Doha.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian also accused Washington of failing to present a “political initiative” that would have given stagnant negotiations a much-needed push.
He made the remarks in a phone conversation with his French counterpart, Catherine Colonna.
Though describing the Tuesday and Wednesday talks in Doha as positive, he said: “We should wait and see how the American side would seek to use the opportunity of diplomacy.”
“We maintain that reiterating previous positions should not replace a political initiative,” he added.
Amir-Abdollahian stressed that Iran is serious about reaching a “good and lasting” agreement and has always presented its proposals and ideas in the negotiations.
The foreign minister also said that the American side attended the Doha talks without a progress and initiative-oriented approach. He remarked that Iran believes that repetition of the past stances should not take the place of political initiatives.
The two-day indirect talks between Iran and the US in Doha last week failed to result in any agreement to settle remaining differences amid international efforts to restore the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Iran signed the JCPOA with the world's major powers in July 2015, agreeing to curb its nuclear program in return for removing sanctions on the country. However, former US president Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the deal in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to drop some of its commitments under the pact.
Talks to revive the deal began in April 2021 in Vienna but were suspended in March this year because of political differences between Tehran and Washington.
Iran's deputy foreign minister and top negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani said on Sunday that the time and place of the next negotiations are being finalized.
Bagheri Kani had paid an unannounced visit to Russia after Tehran-Washington proximity talks in Doha ended with no results.
