(Reuters) – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Saturday that when his government says it will return soon to talks on resuming compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, it means when Tehran has completed its review of the nuclear file.

On Friday, Amirabdollahian told reporters in New York that Iran would return to talks “very soon,” but gave no specific date.

In remarks broadcast on state TV channel IRINN on Saturday, Amirabdollahian said, “People keep asking how soon is soon. Does it mean days, weeks or months?”

“The difference between Iranian and Western ‘soon’ is a lot. To us,‘soon’ means really in the first opportune time – when our reviews (of the nuclear file) have been completed. What is important is our determination to return to the talks, but those that are serious and guarantee the Iranian nation’s rights and interests,” Amirabdollahian said.

On the sidelines at the U.N. General Assembly, he spoke to IRINN New York.

On the other hand, he said: “I remind you of the West’s promises, such as repeatedly promising they would ‘soon’, ‘in a few months,’ implement the Instex” – a trade mechanism set up to barter humanitarian goods and food after the U.S. withdrawal from the deal.

Iran claims that the European channel has not been effective. 

Under the 2015 deal that Iran signed with world powers, it agreed to curb its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions. Washington instead reimposed unilateral financial sanctions and reneged on the deal.

The talks between Iran and five countries – Britain China France Germany Germany Russia and France – that were initiated in April have been stopped by Ebrahimi Raisi, a hardliner cleric.

European diplomats serve as intermediaries between Washington, Tehran and the United States. Tehran refuses to deal directly with U.S. officials.

(dubai.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com; Editing by Frances Kerry)