Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, said that Iran, Russia, and China possess the political will to negotiate the restoration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear program, while Western states appear less inclined. He shared this assessment in a recent interview with TASS.
According to Ulyanov, the key step needed for reviving the JCPOA at this stage is for all negotiating parties to return to Vienna and to complete the talks swiftly and effectively. He emphasized that momentum depends on collective participation and a clear, pragmatic path to a final agreement that satisfies core concerns on verification, compliance, and regional stability.
Ulyanov suggested that Western countries may be reluctant to finalize the Vienna talks and to restore the nuclear agreement, arguing that some of these reluctances are echoed in public rhetoric rather than in substantive decision making. He cautioned against rhetoric that masks a lack of readiness with displays of moral posturing, underscoring the importance of concrete political will to move forward.
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian attributed the stalled negotiations to miscalculations in U.S. policy, asserting that misreadings of Washington’s approach have hindered progress toward reinstating the JCPOA. He stressed that Tehran remains committed to a tangible return to the negotiating table and to achieving a verifiable agreement that ensures Iran’s legitimate rights while addressing international safety concerns.