Iran's Zarif to offer 'constructive' plan amid hopes of informal nuclear talks
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaks at the presidential palace in Baabda, Lebanon August 14, 2020
Iranwillsoonpresent a"constructive" planofaction,ForeignMinisterMohammadJavadZarifsaidonFriday, after European sourcessaidTehran gave positive signs about opening informal talks about its nuclear programme.
"AsIran's FM (foreignminister) & chief nuclear negotiator, I will shortlypresentour constructive concreteplanofaction- through proper diplomatic channels,"Zarifsaidon Twitter.
A French diplomatic source and another European sourcesaidon Thursday thatIranhad given encouraging signs in recent days about opening the informal talks after European powers scrappedplans to criticise Tehran at the UNnuclear watchdog.
Iranhas so far refused to take part in a meeting brokered by the European Union between world powers and the United States on reviving its 2015 nuclear deal.
Iran's nuclear policy is decided by the country's top authority, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and not the president or the government.
Tehran and Washington have emerged from former USPresident Donald Trump's attempts to wreckIran's nuclear deal locked in a standoff over who should move first to save it. Trump pulled out of the deal in 2018.
Britain, France and Germany decided to pause the submission of a resolution critical ofIranat the International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday to not harm the prospects for diplomacy after what theysaidwere concessions gained fromIranto deal with outstanding nuclear.