Vienna: The eighth round of Vienna-hosted international negotiations on the resumption of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is close to completion, Iranian news agency ISNA reported on Sunday, citing sources. The meetings held last week in Vienna have proceeded in a "progressive" and "constructive" atmosphere, with only "remaining issues" left to be discussed among the parties, the report said. Given the recent involvement of representatives of Iran's central bank and petroleum ministry in the negotiation, it can be expected to complete soon, the sources were cited as saying. The JCPOA was signed in 2015 by the United Kingdom, Russia, China, Germany, the United States, France, the European Union, and Iran, imposing restrictions on the advancement of the Iranian nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of US sanctions. In 2018, former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and reimposed sanctions on Iran. The Iranian government responded with a gradual retreat from JCPOA obligations. Since April 2021, Vienna has been hosting talks to restore the deal. The seventh round of talks on bringing Iran back to the nuclear deal and lifting US sanctions ended on December 17. The parties agreed on two drafts of a new deal which includes provisions covering Iranian interests. The eighth round of the talks began on December 27. Negotiators made a break in late January and resumed the talks last Tuesday.(Input NEA).