JCPOA ‘at decisive stage’ as Iran seeks ‘guarantees’ on non-revocation
The US assessment of negotiations with Iran by the original P5+1 regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is that ‘We are in the midst of the very final stages of…a complex negotiation with the key stakeholders. This is really the decisive period during which we’ll be able to determine whether a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA is in the offing or if it’s not. We are sincere and steadfast in our efforts to test the proposition as to whether a return can be achieved. We continue to believe that a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA is the best way to, once again, place permanent, verifiable limits on Iran’s nuclear program. But we’re in a decisive period because that window will very shortly have closed.’
So said US Department of State spokesman Ned Price at a press briefing during which all issues, including that of relations with Iran, were eclipsed by discussion of the crisis in Ukraine.
In an interview with the Financial Times (published on the website of the Iranian foreign ministry), Iran’s foreign minister Dr Amir Abdollahian also gave a cautiously upbeat assessment of the state of the negotiations. ‘Despite [various outstanding issues] we have made some progress on the table and are hopeful that this progress will lead to a good agreement. To achieve this good agreement, it is imperative that the Western party acts realistically.’ The minister went on to say that that Iran is seeking the lifting of the sanctions ‘that should have been lifted’ under the JCPOA and ‘all sanctions that were unilaterally imposed under the Trump administration on persons and entities of the Islamic Republic of Iran should be lifted.’
Dr Abdollahian said that one outstanding issue was as relating to the kind of guarantee that the United States could give that it would not, again, revoke any agreement reached. He said that the commitment given by President Biden at the G7 summit did not ‘constitute a strong political guarantee,’ however, ‘legal and legislative’ guarantees would carry more weight.’
He added, ‘We have told Americans, through intermediaries, that if your intentions are genuine, you should take some practical and tangible steps on the ground before any direct talks and contacts can take place.
‘For instance, some of our money frozen with foreign banks can be released or the US president can lift part of the sanctions against Iran simply by an executive order to show their good will so that we can then believe what the Americans would say [in direct talks] can be implemented and that they have serious determination to comply. Additionally, this is the negotiation table that would show in which directions our next decisions will go.
‘In general, we are optimistic. The other sides try to exert pressure on us through shocks and diplomacy of playing with time and tell us we are running out of time and should therefore reach an agreement soon; however, we believe that talks should continue until we reach a good point to ensure we can reach a good agreement.’
