Iran denies report of nearing ‘interim deal’ with US on nuclear program

TEHRAN (AA): Iran has denied a report that it is nearing an “interim deal” with the US that would see some sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Iranian uranium enrichment.

Iran’s mission at the UN dismissed the report published by the Middle East Eye website that claimed a breakthrough in talks between Tehran and Washington to reach an “interim deal.”

“There is no interim deal (meant) to replace the JCPOA,” said Iran’s UN mission on Friday, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as Iran nuclear deal, stressing that no such agreement is on the agenda.

A spokesman for the White House National Security Council also earlier rejected the report, calling it “false and misleading.”

Citing two sources, the Middle East Eye in a report on Thursday had claimed that Tehran and Washington were nearing a temporary deal that would bring sanctions relief to Iran in exchange for a reduction in nuclear enrichment activities.

It said the talks have taken place on US soil, adding that Washington is still reluctant to rejoin the 2015 nuclear accord it unilaterally abandoned in May 2018. The two sides “engaged in several face-to-face meetings”, the report stated.

Under the deal, the report said, Iran would “cease its 60 percent-and-beyond uranium enrichment activities and continue its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog for monitoring and verification of its nuclear program.”

On Thursday, Mohsen Naziri Asl, Iran’s permanent representative at the UN office in Vienna, blamed Washington’s “lack of political will and determination” for deadlock in talks.

He also called on European governments to avoid “provocative and unconstructive attitudes” toward Iran’s nuclear program.

The US and its European allies have often expressed concern over Iran’s nuclear proliferation, warning that Tehran is eyeing a nuclear bomb. Iranian authorities, however, deny such plans.