The Advisor to the Iranian Delegation in the Vienna Talks, Dr. Mohammad Marandi

The advisor to the Iranian delegation in the talks to revive the nuclear deal in Vienna Mohammad Marandi said on Saturday that there are many reasons that prevented the nuclear deal from being signed so far, noting that the US terror list is not the main issue.

Marandi told Sputnik that after EU coordinator Enrique Mora's visit to Tehran, we're waiting to see if the Americans are willing to show the required flexibility to sign the deal or not.

The advisor said that Europe and the US are currently facing an economic crisis and an energy crisis, and are in desperate need for the deal with Iran. He also noted that "we'll see whether or not the current US administration's motivations are enough to sign the deal and stand against its opponents in Washington."

The Russian military operation in Ukraine and the emerging energy crisis as the consequence make Europe force an agreement with Iran on the JCPOA, Marandi said, adding that the West is looking for calm in West Asia so it can focus on Ukraine and Russia.

"One of the reasons for the so-called headlong pursuit by the Europeans of a deal with Iran is the hostilities in Ukraine and the world market's need for Iranian oil and gas, the constant need for Iranian energy sources."

Marandi: Iran will not compete with Russia on oil markets

The Vienna delegation's advisor also commented on talks of Iran replacing Russia in the global oil market, saying that Tehran does not intend to compete with Moscow on the oil market in the event of reaching a new nuclear deal.

"Iran cannot compete with Russia on the world oil and gas markets at all. Iran has long had its own permanent buyers of oil, and now Iran is exporting its oil at full capacity, meaning that Iran is currently producing oil at full capacity and selling the maximum amount of it. The production capacity and sales volume may slightly increase in the event of signing the JCPOA after all. However, Tehran will never intend to be Moscow's competitor on the oil market," Marandi said.

He further explained that European countries must have "a more rational, more sensible relationship with Russia" to overcome the economic crisis.