France seeks progress on nuclear talks as Iran top diplomat to visit Paris

"French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed on Monday that his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi will arrive on Wednesday for discussions that Paris hopes will nudge Iran back into full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as part of a defunct nuclear deal. list of 3 itemsend of list This will be an opportunity for us to call on Iran to comply with its obligations towards the IAEA and for a swift resumption of cooperation with the agency, Barrot said ahead of the meeting."

"Araghchi reiterated that position in an interview with Al Jazeera, saying Tehran remained open to dialogue if Washington approaches talks from an equal position based on mutual interest. He dismissed reported US conditions including demands for direct talks, zero enrichment, restrictions on missile capabilities, and curbs on support for regional allies as illogical and unfair. It appears they are not in a hurry, he said. We are not in a hurry, either."

"French officials also plan to raise the status of two French nationals who were released from detention in Iran but remain unable to leave the country. Both are currently staying inside the French embassy in Tehran, and Paris has repeatedly pressed for their return. The Paris meeting comes as Tehran has signalled it sees little urgency in resuming indirect talks with the United States over the future of its nuclear programme."

France will host Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in Paris to press for resumed cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and stalled nuclear negotiations. Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed Araghchi's arrival and framed the talks as an opportunity to call on Iran to comply with IAEA obligations and swiftly resume cooperation. French officials will raise the status of two French nationals released from detention who remain unable to leave and are staying inside the French embassy in Tehran. Tehran signalled little urgency to resume indirect talks with the United States, and Araghchi said Iran remains open to dialogue only on equal terms and dismissed reported US demands as illogical and unfair.

Read at www.aljazeera.com