Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Saturday that the Iranian delegation has held productive talks with representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, moving closer to a new framework for bilateral cooperation.

Speaking at a seminar in Tehran, Araghchi highlighted the evolving nature of the negotiations. “The conditions have changed. I’m not saying that negotiations have been removed from the agenda, but they certainly have new forms and dimensions, and new concerns and components have emerged,” he said, implicitly referencing the US-backed Israeli regime’s aggression on Iran in June.

Araghchi added that future discussions will reflect these new realities. “It is not the case we enter into talks like before the war. We must enter into the talks with different arrangements, different planning, and the concerns and worries that exist,” he said.

The Iranian minister confirmed that negotiations in Vienna have been fruitful. “Today, my colleagues continued negotiations to reach a new framework, and as far as I know, they had very good talks. We are very close to reaching an agreement on a new framework for cooperation with the Agency, in accordance with legislation approved by Parliament and within the legal framework, as well as the realities on the ground and the changes that have taken place,” Araghchi stated.

He emphasized that the new framework would ensure all concerns outlined in Iranian legislation are addressed. “We can start a new round of cooperation with the Agency, in which all the concerns that are specifically reflected in Parliament’s piece of legislation are taken into account,” he said.

Regarding Iran’s talks with Germany, France, and the United Kingdom amid their move to trigger the snapback mechanism, Araghchi noted continued engagement. “Our negotiations with the three European countries are continuing. I have had several telephone conversations with their foreign ministers. Two nights ago, I met with Ms. Kallas, the head of the EU’s foreign policy, in Doha for over two hours, and a better understanding of the situation is emerging.”

Araghchi criticized the European nations’ decision to pursue the dispute resolution mechanism (DRM) under UN Resolution 2231. “The European countries made a big mistake and made the work more difficult and complicated. Our talks with them are continuing, and I hope we can reach a shared understanding,” he said.

On relations with the United States, the minister stated that communications continue through mediators. “The day the Americans reach a point where they are ready for a negotiation based on mutual interests and mutual respect, we will resume the negotiation,” Araghchi added. (ILKHA)