Pause needed in Iran nuke talks: Josep Borrell

BRUSSELS: Josep Borrell, the European Union's (EU) foreign policy chief, said that a pause is needed in the talks on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), citing "external factors". "I will, with my team, continue to be in touch with all JCPOA participants and the US to overcome the current situation and to close the agreement," he said on Twitter, while noting that a final text of an agreement is "essentially ready and on the table", reports Xinhua news agency.

Borrell did not give further details on when will the negotiations reconvene. Following Borrell's remarks, Enrique Mora, the EU coordinator in the Vienna talks, said that the negotiators are "almost there" on reaching a deal and "have a text in which almost everything is done".

Mora said both Iran and the US have taken a very constructive and positive approach in the negotiations.

"In order to keep this good spirit and atmosphere, it's better to pause," he said, adding that he hopes the talks could resume "very soon".

The sudden suspension of the Vienna talks came as participants of the negotiations revealed in recent days they were closing in on an agreement despite a few outstanding issues.

Mora on Monday called on the participants to make a political decision "in the next few days" to end the negotiations. (IANS)

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