“We will cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog based on the joint statement issued on Saturday. The Islamic Republic of Iran has responded to the IAEA’s questions, but the answers had to be given again within the technical framework and in a specific period,” Khatibzadeh said.

Khatibzadeh confirmed that there was a direct link between closing the IAEA’s open issues and the potential deal in Vienna.

On the possibility of direct talks between Tehran and Washington, Khatibzadeh underlined that the US was no more a participant of the JCPOA and the commitments that it had to take on were clear for Iran and the P4+1, as it was willing to return to the deal.

On Saturday, the Vice-President of Iran and President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), and the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) agreed, in continuation of their cooperation as stated in the Joint Statement of 26 August 2020, to accelerate and strengthen their cooperation and dialogue aimed at the resolution of the issues. (ILKHA)