Europeans, China and Russia seek Wednesday to find common ground with Iran on its nuclear program, in their first meeting since the launch of proceedings against Tehran, accused of violating the 2015 agreement, which offered Iran the lifting of part of the international sanctions in exchange for guarantees intended to prove the exclusively civilian nature of its nuclear program.
Read also: What remains of the Iranian nuclear deal?
This meeting is taking place in Vienna, Austria, at the level of political directors within the framework of the joint commission, the discussion body provided for by the Iranian nuclear agreement. The meeting is chaired by Helga Schmid, file specialist with the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell. Besides Iran, it brings together representatives from China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
The historic Vienna agreement has been seriously threatened since the United States unilaterally denounced it in 2018. Tehran, asphyxiated by sanctions, has responded by releasing itself from several of its commitments since May 2019 every two months , recalls the American NGO Arms Control Association.