World powers are holding private talks in Vienna aimed at reviving Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal. But there is no result in the discussion. In the eyes of the public, differences between Iran and the West continue to grow. News Qatar-based media Al-Jazeera.
On Tuesday, Iran’s chief negotiator complained in a tweet that the opposition was still in the habit of blaming them instead of pursuing real diplomacy.
Ali Bagheri Kani further said that France, Germany and the United Kingdom are the three European countries that have signed the agreement. The United States, which withdrew from the agreement in 2016, is with them. These countries lack the political will to reach an agreement.
Earlier, diplomats from three European countries complained that they had not yet entered into practical talks with Iran. Iran is wasting time in the name of negotiations. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warned that diplomacy was the best option. If diplomacy fails, the United States will work with allies and partners on alternative approaches.
In 2015, a nuclear deal was signed with Iran. The United States, the permanent members of the UN Security Council, and the European Union (EU) were involved in the treaty. After lengthy negotiations, all parties reached an agreement.
The official name of the nuclear deal with Iran is the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Under the agreement, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program. The country has agreed to reduce its uranium reserves. This uranium is used to make nuclear weapons. The agreement also stipulates a reduction in the number of centrifuges used to enrich uranium. Instead of complying with these conditions, various sanctions imposed on Iran were lifted. In particular, sanctions imposed by the United Nations, the United States and the EU have been lifted. However, in 2016, US President Donald Trump announced his withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Iran.
Negotiators in three European countries have warned in Vienna that talks are under way, and that time is running out. The JCPOA will soon become an empty jar if negotiations do not move forward in light of the rapid progress of Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran waits a year after the United States pulled out of the deal and imposed tough sanctions. Since then they have gradually expanded their nuclear program and are now using advanced centrifuges to enrich uranium to 60 percent. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that the country has not enriched uranium to the 90 percent purity required for a nuclear bomb. Iran has repeatedly said it will not pursue nuclear weapons.
The seventh round of JCPOA recovery talks began in the Austrian capital on Thursday after a week-long break. Prior to the break, Iran presented two documents containing its proposals. However, the three European countries refused to accept the terms of the agreement. Iran has said it has prepared a third document to verify the lifting of sanctions and has sought assurances that the United States will not withdraw the JCPOA.
Many bilateral and multilateral meetings have been held in Vienna at the level of chief negotiator and expert working group. Another meeting of the JCPOA Joint Commission may be held before the weekend.
Russia’s chief negotiator Mikhail Ulyanov said in a tweet on Monday that there were still “numerous problems”. But all sides are working to fill the gaps.
On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Amir Abdullahian had a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. In a phone call, he called on the negotiators to propose further initiatives in the talks. Lavrov said all U.S. sanctions that are inconsistent with the JCPOA must be met. That is the demand of Iran. But the United States wants to maintain sanctions on human rights and terrorism, as imposed by Donald Trump and his successor in the White House, Joe Biden.
The Biden administration has maintained pressure on Iran by imposing sanctions. Last week, the United States imposed new sanctions, prompting Iranian negotiators to criticize the approach in Vienna.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the lifting of US unilateral sanctions on Iran to ensure full implementation of Resolution 2231. The report was discussed at a council meeting yesterday.
Meanwhile, Israel, a staunch opponent of the nuclear deal, has continued to push for military action against Iran.
