US State Department: Many issues of concern remain in talks with Iran

The US discussed with Russia the possibility of expanding the nuclear deal with Iran, a US senior State Department official said June 24 at a special briefing for journalists via teleconference on the situation around the multilateral talks in Vienna on Iran’s nuclear program, Report informs.

One reporter argued that Russia rejected the prospect of expanding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran and asked the briefing host to comment on this.

“We had many discussions with our Russian colleagues about this. I’m not going to characterize their position. I think many countries have agreed that they want more diplomacy with Iran to address a range of issues, including regional issues, and Russia has been at the – one of the parties that has put forward ideas for what that diplomacy could look like. So, I’m not sure that I would fully agree with how you put it, but there are differences of views, but our position is very clear – is that we’re going to need follow-on talks, discussions to strengthen the deal,” US senior State Department official noted.

“And again, we would make the point that this is not only something that we think would help us. We do think that it would help – it would – it should be in Iran’s interest because they have issues that they’re going to want to bring to the table,” the official added.