When compared to the deadlock before Enrique Mora, the European Union's nuclear talks coordinator, visited Tehran last week, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh claimed diplomatic attempts to restore the nuclear agreement have "made strides forward."
Last week, Mora spent two days of negotiations in Tehran with Iran's main negotiator Ali Bagheri, prompting the EU to declare the talks reopened.
Nonetheless, Khatibzadeh said on Monday that Iran was waiting for the US response to "options" discussed with the EU ambassador for breaking the deadlock in talks to restore the 2015 accord.
The talks, which were supposed to bring the US back into the accord and Iran to full compliance, have been stuck for roughly two months.
"There were serious and result-oriented conversations with particular Iranian initiatives," Khatibzadeh told reporters.
"If the US responds to some of the answers that have been suggested, we may be in a position where all parties return to Vienna," he said during his weekly press conference.
"We can argue that a key step has been taken in the course of the negotiations if the US makes their political decision today, which we have not yet received," Khatibzadeh added.
Iran has been in direct talks with France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, and China to resurrect the nuclear deal, technically known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Indirectly, the United States has taken part.
Iran received sanctions relief in exchange for limits on its nuclear programme, preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
In March, the broad contours of a deal were agreed upon, but the agreement was derailed by Russian and Iranian last-minute demands.
According to the state-run Mehr news agency, Mora's visit followed a phone chat between EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
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