Iran critical of European countries' stance on nuclear deal

Iranian negotiator says Europe is not trying to resolve differences over the removal of sanctions

Iran said on Sunday that European countries had failed to offer constructive proposals to help to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, after Britain said this was the last chance for Tehran to save it.

Talks have resumed in Vienna to try to revive the nuclear pact, with both sides trying to gauge the prospects of success after the latest exchanges in the stop-start negotiations.

"European parties fail to come up with any initiatives to resolve differences over the removal of sanctions," Iran's top negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani said, according to Iran's state-run Press TV.

He was referring to Britain, France and Germany, which are among the major powers trying to salvage the deal.

"This is the last chance for Iran to come to the negotiating table with a serious resolution to this issue, which has to be agreeing the terms of the [nuclear accord]," British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Sunday.

"This is their last chance and it is vital that they do so. We will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon."

Germany said on Saturday that time was running out to find a way to revive the accord.

After meetings with ministers from G7 countries in Liverpool, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Iran had resumed the talks with a position that set the negotiations back six months.

Under the original deal that then-US president Donald Trump abandoned in 2018, Iran limited its nuclear programme in return for relief from US, EU and UN sanctions.

The current round of talks in Vienna follow a pause of five months after the election of hardliner Ebrahim Raisi as Iran's president.

Iranian officials have said they are sticking to their tough stance.

Mr Raisi said on Saturday that Tehran was serious about its nuclear talks in Vienna.

Updated: December 12, 2021, 10:38 PM