Caution, or perhaps a lack of optimism, filled the atmosphere in Vienna’s Coburg Hotel as representatives from Iran and world powers convened for a fresh round of talks on resurrecting the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

On the eve of the new meetings, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian did not appear overoptimistic in comments that further marked the complexities ahead.

“We are in doubts that the Western parties are even ready to grant sanctions relief,” he declared in an Instagram post. “Time has come for practical measures,” the Iranian minister noted, complaining that in the past eight years “enough unfulfilled promises have been offered [by the Western sides].”

The fresh round was being held at the deputy foreign minister level, with delegations from Iran, China, Russia, the UK, France and Germany. The United States has sent its own team for an indirect engagement, seeking re-entry into the accord, which has been on life support since it was abandoned by former president Donald Trump in 2018.