Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called on President Biden to unconditionally lift sanctions on Iran if the new administration is serious about reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA.
Writing in Foreign Affairs, in an article titled, “Iran Wants the Nuclear Deal It Made,” Zarif lays out Tehran’s position.
“The administration should begin by unconditionally removing, with full effect, all sanctions imposed, reimposed, or relabeled since Trump took office,” Zarif wrote. “In turn, Iran would reverse all the remedial measures it has taken in the wake of Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal.”
Zarif makes it clear in the article that Biden will not get any additional concessions out of Iran until sanctions are lifted.
How the Biden administration will approach Iran is not exactly clear yet. Throughout his campaign and the transition period, Biden said he would work with Iran to return to the JCPOA and negotiate a follow-on deal after the fact. However, some of Biden’s new cabinet members said during Tuesday’s confirmation hearings that “we are a long way” from returning to the JCPOA.
Reporters asked White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Wednesday night if President Biden planned to return to the JCPOA. “The president has made clear that through follow-on diplomacy, the United States should seek to lengthen and strengthen nuclear constraints on Iran and address other issues of concern,” she said.
“Iran must resume compliance with significant nuclear constraints under the deal in order for that to proceed,” Psaki added.
Judging by Psaki’s comments, it’s still not clear what Biden’s move is on Iran. With opposition to the JCPOA from Republicans in Congress, some Democrats in the Senate, and regional allies like Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, it will take a strong move from Biden to quickly lift sanctions on Iran to revive the deal.
Just imagine how sympathetic the US would be if Iran told us that internal political issues mean they can’t follow through and deliver what they promised to do, and instead their failure to deliver on the old stuff means they expect to get even more: like for the US to destroy all its nukes before Iran will ever fully comply with the JCPOA. US politicians would drop dead from acute shock and indignation at being treated like we treat the world.
This situation kinda gets down to the way the US does business, by ordering other countries to do this or that. Cooperation doesn’t compute. It’s a sign of weakness to the US, apparently.
Reminds me of sex. The US, supercharged with the dangerous drug testosterone, vs. other countries (say China, as the best example) who are female on estrogen, and cooperate not compete. The latter methods seem to be taking a larger hold in the world, including in Europe, which leaves the US out on a limb and the world sees it.
The original mistake was to trust the US at all. The other European signatories were spineless, and immaterial.
An early opportunity for Biden to show independence and leadership. I don’t expect much of either …
re: Iran’s Zarif Calls on Biden to Lift Sanctions
…that’s commendable, but the timing isn’t so good . .recent events:
>Dec 31, 2020 – Military.com
Iran is ramping up threats of revenge for the January 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, while the U.S. is warning of swift and devastating retaliation to any attack.
>Jan. 3, 2021-DOD
The following statement is attributable to Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller.
“Due to the recent threats issued by Iranian leaders against President Trump and other U.S. government officials, I have ordered the USS Nimitz to halt its routine redeployment. The USS Nimitz will now remain on station in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. No one should doubt the resolve of the United States of America.”
>Jan 22, 2021 – Newsweek
Iran Tweets Violent Threat Against Donald Trump, Who Twitter Banned for Inciting Violence
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday tweeted a graphic appearing to show the shadow of a bomber aircraft flying over former U.S. president Donald Trump as he played golf.
>Jan 22, 2021 – AP
Twitter bans account of Iran’s top leader after Trump threat
Twitter said on Friday it had permanently banned what it called a “fake” account thought to be connected to the office of Iran’s supreme leader, shortly after a posting that seemed to threaten former President Donald Trump.
JUST DO IT!!!