1.   On Friday, August 19, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyundong spoke over the phone with Robert Malley, U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, and Enrique Mora, EU European External Action Service Deputy Secretary General, respectively. In the two phone calls, Vice Minister Cho exchanged views on the current situation in the negotiations for reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and issues related to Iran.

2.   Special Envoy Malley and Deputy Secretary General Mora shared recent developments in the negotiations and their assessments of them, including the EU's final draft for the Iran nuclear deal and Iran's response. Vice Minister Cho reaffirmed the ROK’s support for the restoration of the Iran nuclear deal.

o In particular, Vice Minister Cho commended the EU for its effort to draft and circulate the final draft and mediate between the U.S. and Iran. He emphasized that, seizing the current momentum, it is time for the U.S. and other parties to conclude the deal, and hoped that it would help resolve Iran-related issues in Korea.

3.   Special Envoy Malley and Deputy Secretary General Mora commended the ROK’s engagements and efforts to advance the JCPOA negotiations, and hoped to closely communicate on the path ahead.