Good news about 'neutralization' of sanctions on the way: Iranian spokesman

TEHRAN -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Saturday that good news will be publicized about the neutralization of anti-Iran sanctions in the coming days.

"In parallel with the Vienna talks to remove sanctions, we are also following the neutralization of sanctions," Khatibzadeh was quoted as saying by Iran's state TV.

He pointed to developing relations between Iran and neighboring states as a means to reduce the pressure of sanctions imposed by the United States.

He said that there are plans for President Ebrahim Raisi to visit neighboring countries as well as the imminent visits of the presidents of some neighboring countries like Turkey to Tehran.

A 20-year comprehensive cooperation agreement with Russia has almost been finalized and necessary permission from the cabinet will be obtained to negotiate it, he said.

Interaction and cooperation with neighboring states have resulted in "openings" in the monetary and banking fields, and "there will be better news in the coming days in the field of neutralizing sanctions," he told the state TV in an interview.

Earlier in the day, Raisi told Iranian diplomats that if the United States lifts anti-Iran sanctions, a "good agreement," which Iran is looking for, will be reached in nuclear negotiations.

Iran and other remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reconvened in the Austrian capital of Vienna on Thursday to discuss the ways for the revival of the JCPOA, the fate of which was uncertain after the withdrawal of the former U.S. administration in 2018.

To deal with the pressure of US sanctions, the administration of Raisi has prioritized developing economic relations with the regional countries.