UPDATE 3-Iran says studies EU-proposed informal meeting with U.S.

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(Adds Iran deputy foreign minister comments on visit by U.N.nuclear watchdog chief, background)

DUBAI, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Iran is studying a European Unionproposal for an informal meeting between current members ofTehran's 2015 nuclear deal and the United States, but has yet torespond to it, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchisaid on Saturday.

Iran and the United States have been at odds over who shouldtake the first step to revive the 2015 accord. Iran insists theUnited States must first lift former President Donald Trump'ssanctions while Washington says Tehran must first return tocompliance with the deal.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif suggestedearlier this month a way to overcome the U.S.-Iranian impasseover who goes first in returning to the nuclear deal, saying EUforeign policy chief Josep Borrell could “synchronize” or“choreograph” the moves.

"We are studying Josep Borrell's proposal to hold aninformal meeting of the 4 + 1 (nuclear deal members) with theUnited States and Iran, and we are consulting with our partners,including Russia and China, and we will respond to this proposalin the future," Araqchi said in an interview with state TV.

"However, we believe a U.S. return to the nuclear accorddoes not require a meeting and the only way for it is to liftthe sanctions," Araqchi said.

The White House said on Friday the United States plans totake no additional actions in response to pressure from Iranbefore potential talks with Tehran and major powers aboutreturning to the deal.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the EU had floatedthe idea of a conversation among Iran and the six major powersthat struck the nuclear accord. "The Europeans have invited usand ... it is simply an invitation to have a conversation, adiplomatic conversation."

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, RafaelGrossi, arrived in Tehran on Saturday, weeks after Iran'shardline parliament set a deadline of Feb. 23 for Washington tolift the sanctions, or Tehran would halt snap IAEA inspections.

"Grossi's trip has nothing to do with Iran's decision andIran's decision shall be implemented," Araqchi said. "About 20to 30% of the IAEA's oversight capacity will be reduced as aresult of the implementation of the parliament's decision."

Cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei said earlier that Iran believedsanctions would soon be lifted despite continued "diplomaticwrangling" over reviving the nuclear deal, signalling Tehran'sdesire to end the impasse while not offering a new position.

"We predict with confidence that diplomatic initiatives willresult in a favourable outcome despite the diplomatic wrangling,which are a natural prelude to the return of the parties totheir commitments, including the lifting of all sanctions in thenear future," Rabiei was quoted as saying by state media.

Under the deal with major powers, Iran accepted curbs to itsnuclear programme in return for the lifting of internationalsanctions. Washington reimposed sanctions after Trump quit thedeal in 2018, and Iran responded by violating some of the deal'snuclear limits.(dubai.newsroom@thomsonreuters.comEditing by Ros Russell, Matthew Lewis and Daniel Wallis)

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