Iran and other participants of the nuclear deal, formally known as the JCPOA, have concluded to continue the talks to revive the deal after the new administration in Iran takes office in August 5. However, the European side and the US are trying to place themselves in the position of the plaintiff, while introducing Iran as the party that left the talks incomplete.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during a meeting with US President Joe Biden in Washington that “it’s up to Iran now to decide and the ball is in Iran’s court.”
Previously, Germany’s Foreign Ministry had said that Berlin wanted to continue the talks, despite Iran’s higher percentage uranium enrichment efforts, adding that “we are ready to return to the negotiating table.”
The statements come as the European participants of the JCPOA failed to implement their most basic commitments in the deal. They refused to provide Iran with economic relief after former US President Donald Trump reimposed all sanctions against Iran, adding several more.
The JCPOA was originally made to lift all US and international sanctions against Iran, in return of putting some restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.
The West acted against the JCPOA, while Iran was fully compliant to the deal, as it was acknowledged by the UN nuclear watchdog in all its quarterly reports from Iran’s nuclear status.
The transatlantic gap created during Trump’ term has been filled since Bide took office and now the US and Europe have joined forces to put pressure on Iran, instead of compensating US betrayal to the deal which cost Iran three years of all-out economic war.
Iran didn’t leave the JCPOA and stayed committed to its obligations in it even for a whole year after Trump withdrew the US from the deal. But finally, Iran reduced its compliance in 5 steps in accordance to the provisions existing in the deal to reciprocate non-compliance by other parties.
The remaining countries in the JCPOA have held 6 rounds of talks in Vienna where the US attended indirectly, because Iran opposed US presence in the meetings since it was no more a party to the deal.
All participants have acknowledge that significant achievements have been made in Vienna talks, while accepting that great disagreements also exists and need to be solved.
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani announced this week that his administration was deprived of continuing the talks and it was left for the new administration to follow up the case.
The US, despite many illogical statements, has shown several positive signals that it’s really willing to return to the deal. The US Treasury Department eased some sanctions this week to allow Iran access its blocked funds in Japan and South Korea.
Nevertheless, the overall situation gives a positive perspective of the future of nuclear talks. Given the talks should be in line with Iran’s national interests, there’s no different which administration would continue negotiations. The important thing is that Iran’s interests must be completely safeguarded.
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