Iran Nuclear Deal: Remaining partners in nuclear accord meet in Vienna

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Signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal have met for crucial talks in the Austrian capital, Vienna. The meeting comes amid renewed hostilities between Iran and the United States. CGTN's Natalie Carney reports from Vienna.

Iran says these talks are the 'last chance,' to save the 2015 nuclear accord.

Time is critical, as Tehran threatens to withdraw from key accord commitments on July 7th if no efforts are made to protect it from crippling new U.S. sanctions.

Iran has already announced a partial withdrawal from some aspects of the nuclear pact, citing the lack of commitment from other parties.

Following a meeting in Vienna with the remaining signatories, China reaffirmed its own commitment to the deal and to the modernization of Iran's Arak heavy-water reactor despite its own trade disputes with the U.S.

FU CONG, DIRECTOR GENERAL DEPT. OF ARMS CONTROL, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY "China is going full speed as respect to the Arak project. This has been appreciated not only by Iran but by other parties and I will say the international community as well."

Despite some progress said to have been made in these talks, Iran says, it's still not enough to change its course.

ABBAS ARAGHCHI IRAN'S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER "I believe it was a positive and constructive meeting. I can say one step forward, compared to the previous meetings we had, but it is still not enough and it is still not meeting Iran's expectations."

Iran remained committed to the deal despite the U.S.' withdrawal a year ago, but now Tehran says its patience is being tested.

Earlier this year, the UK, France and Germany designed the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges or INSTEX, a special payment channel to skirt around U.S. sanctions by facilitating non-dollar trade with Iran.

NATALIE CARNEY VIENNA "But this too is being threatened by Washington. Iran's economy is dominated by oil and gas production, which it exports all over the world; Yet in a new threat to the nuclear deal, the U.S. special envoy for Iran has said his country will sanction any country that imports Iranian oil with no exemptions."

Yet, China says it will continue to buy oil from Iran.

FU CONG, DIRECTOR GENERAL DEPT. OF ARMS CONTROL, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY "China categorically rejects this zero policy by the U.S. and we will do everything we can to maintain our legitimate economic and trade relations with Iran and safeguard the legitimate interests of our companies."

There are also reports that Washington could sanction the Special Trade and Finance Institute, the Iranian counterpart to Instex.

Meantime, China says it will work to try salvage the deal with group discussions on how to deal with the excess of Iran's low- enriched uranium and further development of INSTEX for third-party use. Natalie Carney CGTN, Vienna.