TEHRAN: 17 months after the U.S and Iran began negotiating a possible return to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal abandoned by President Donald J. Trump, negotiations on a deal to restore the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran are reportedly inching forwards, with Tehran saying on Thursday that it was examining the latest proposal.

Iran obtained a response from the US govt on Wednesday to Europeon Union foreign affairs envoy Josep Borrell's compromise proposal for the text of the agreement, as per reports.

Nasser Kanaani, a spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, said on Thursday that Tehran would now carefully consider the US reaction before making its choice and announcing it to the EU right away.

Last week, Iran delivered the EU its response to Borrell's compromise approach, along with some suggested revisions. The US has now given back its response. 

According to National Security Council communications coordinator John Kirby, the parties are "closer presently than we were just a couple of weeks ago."  "There are still gaps. We haven't arrived yet, "He was quoted as saying by the Washington Post.

At talks in Vienna in early August, which were mediated by the EU, representatives of Iran and a number of nations, including Germany, tried to come to an agreement to relieve US sanctions and reimpose limitations on Tehran's nuclear programme.

These were the initial objectives of a 2015 agreement to stop Tehran from constructing nuclear weapons.  Under then-President Donald Trump, the US had withdrawn from the accord in 2018. The text of the deal was now ready, and only a "yes" or "no" was required, EU's Borrell had emphasised at the conclusion of this month's negotiations.

Iran claims that US is delaying nuclear talks

Nuke agreement hinges on U.S. decision after Iran responds to EU

Iran makes political decision on nuclear deal, waiting for US decision