US must make first move on Iran nuclear deal, China says
- Chinese foreign minister tells Iranian counterpart that Beijing welcomes Tehran’s return to talks
- Western nations warn that Iran is edging closer to weapons-grade enriched uranium
In a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Saturday, Wang said Tehran’s decision showed its “positive attitude on resuming compliance with the deal”.
“The US, which unilaterally withdrew from the [agreement], should take steps to rectify its policies first,” a foreign ministry statement quoted Wang as saying. “And Iran may resume fulfilling its nuclear commitments on that basis.”
After a five-month lull, Iran has agreed to resume talks on November 29 on the nuclear deal officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Under the deal reached in 2015, Iran agreed to eliminate a range of nuclear infrastructure in return for aid and the lifting of international nuclear sanctions.
Western nations have warned in recent months that Iran has begun enriching uranium to its highest level ever and is edging closer to weapons-grade levels, adding to the urgency for reopening talks in Vienna to restore the deal.