TEHRAN: Iranian MPs urged the government on Sunday to secure Western guarantees at Vienna talks to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, state media reported, amid signs a deal could be close.

In a letter addressed to President Ebrahim Raisi and read at parliament, 250 MPs out of the 290-strong assembly, set out several conditions for reaching a deal.

It came amid growing signs over the weekend that a deal could be struck between Iran and world powers, including the United States.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday that the “moment of truth” has arrived for Tehran’s leadership.

In the letter, the Iranian MPs insisted that the United States, France, Germany and Britain must guarantee they would not withdraw from a new deal.

Israel’s PM says Tel Aviv will not be bound by a restored pact

The Vienna talks aim to revive the 2015 accord known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The deal offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme, but the US unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump and re-imposed heavy economic sanctions.

This in turn prompted Iran to begin rolling back on its commitments.

The MPs also demanded a pledge from the US and other parties to the JCPOA that they would not use a “snapback” mechanism that would re-impose sanctions on Iran in case Tehran violates its part of the deal.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said before a cabinet meeting Iran may “shortly” agree a new nuclear deal with major powers.

“We may see an agreement shortly,” Bennett said, adding that the deal that appeared to be in the making “is shorter and weaker than the previous one”.

Bennett has said Israel will not be bound by a restored agreement and will retain the freedom to act against Iran.

Signs of a deal coming together emerged at the weekend, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz saying there “was the chance to reach an agreement that will allow sanctions to be lifted”, while warning that talks could still collapse during what he called “the moment of truth”.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2022