Iran claimed on Monday that differences with the United States persist over the issues of lifting sanctions and obtaining guarantees in Vienna talks aimed at saving the 2015 nuclear deal.
“Important and significant issues remain regarding the removal of sanctions that have not made an agreement possible so far,” foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said at a news conference.
Tehran frequently asked for guarantees that the US will not again withdraw from the 2015 deal, after former president Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of the pact in 2018.
Khatibzadeh’s remarks came as the eighth round of negotiations to restore the agreement has been on pause since Friday.
The negotiators returned to their capitals for consultations, according to European diplomats.
The European Union’s coordinator for the talks, Enrique Mora, said at the time that “political decisions” are required and that talks are expected to resume this week.
