Iran, world powers to meet on nuclear deal in Vienna on Friday
Top diplomats of Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia will join Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in the Austrian capital, Iran's official IRNA news agency reports, for their first talks together on the deal since Washington pulled out earlier this year.
The top diplomats of Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia will join Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in the Austrian capital, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported, for their first talks together on the deal since Washington pulled out earlier this year.
During the meeting the ministers will discuss an "incentive package" the European Union is offering to try to persuade Iran to stay in the agreement, IRNA reported.
The meeting will seek "solutions to preserve the Iran nuclear deal after the illegal US action to withdraw," it said.
The announcement came with President Hassan Rouhani in Europe to rally support for the deal.
Rouhani, accompanied by Zarif, was in Switzerland on Tuesday and due to head on Wednesday to Vienna, where the accord was signed in 2015.
US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out of the agreement two months ago, to the ire of the other signatories which along with the European Union have continued to back the accord.
Iran has warned it is ready to resume uranium enrichment to 20 percent—above the level permitted in the deal—"within days" if the agreement falls apart.
Meanwhile Tuesday, Austria says it would lift the immunity of an Iranian diplomat detained in Germany over a plot to attack an Iranian opposition group.
Matthias Forenbacher, a spokesman for Austria's foreign minister, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Iran was notified the man's diplomatic status will be canceled within 48 hours.
A day earlier, Iran's ambassador in Vienna was summoned to the ministry and asked to "contribute to clarifying the situation."
The diplomat was detained by police Sunday during a traffic stop near Aschaffenburg.
Belgium accuses him of being part of a plot to attack a rally of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq group in France, and wants him extradited. A Belgian couple was also arrested Saturday.
Munich prosecutors told the AP they are also investigating the man in connection with the attack.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
