After a week of indirect talks between the US and Iran in Vienna, a US official clarified with reporters on Friday that the Biden administration is not willing to lift all Trump-era sanctions on Iran to revive the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA.
After the US withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, the Trump administration slapped an enormous number of sanctions on Iran. Some were related to the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, while others were imposed over alleged human rights abuses and claims of terrorism.
Iran’s Foreign Minister said on Twitter that Tehran expects all sanctions imposed by Trump to be removed. “All Trump sanctions were anti-JCPOA & must be removed—w/o distinction between arbitrary designations,” he wrote on Friday.
Later on Friday, a senior US State Department official told reporters Iran’s position was not acceptable to Washington. “If Iran sticks to the position that every sanction that has been imposed since 2017 has to be lifted or there will be no deal, then we are heading towards an impasse,” the official said.
The official also said the US had not seen enough seriousness from the Iranian side about returning to the JCPOA. But the fact that Iran is willing to negotiate with the US at all is a concession and a sign that the Islamic Republic is very serious about reviving the deal, which it has been trying to preserve since the US pulled out.
Although it appears the US is taking a hardline approach, others involved in the talks had positive things to say on Friday, including the Iranian side. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iran’s Press TV that the negotiations have been “constructive.”
“In my opinion, these negotiations are moving forward, very constructive and useful, but it is too early to say whether we are moving forward in a positive direction,” Araghchi said.
Two working groups set up by the talks that had been meeting since Tuesday reported their progress to Iran and the other JCPOA participants on Friday. Details of what the working groups discussed are not clear. The JCPOA commission will convene again next week.
That total garbage is what the US would say if it was bluffing, just tactical.
It is also what it would say if it was faking any real desire to get back to the Deal.
That the US might very well be so totally in bad faith is its negotiating “strength” — all its got left. Proud moment, right?
That is not very creative nor effective foreign policy.
But, in spite of this, Abbas Araghchi is managing the thing perfectly, keeping a friendly, positive, reasonable face before the public.
The entire world (including its own people) recognizes Israel/US for a gangster regime whose survival rests solely on its willingness to apply appalling violence (“shock & awe”) and (Epstein-style) corruption to every obstacle. But the apposite metaphor is “bull-fighting”, where despite his massive power, the brute is weakened and killed by the seeming effortlessness and elegant intelligence of the pitifully small man.
Still, the devil in the machine is global warming; and this type of global war-gaming distracts us all to our impending doom.
“Some were related to the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, while others were imposed over alleged human rights abuses and claims of terrorism.”
The operative word being “alleged”. ALL the sanctions were imposed for the same reason, to make Iran capitulate to our every demand. It wasn’t called “maximum pressure” for nothing. Who didn’t see this coming?
“The official also said the US had not seen enough seriousness from the Iranian side about returning to the JCPOA.”
Meaning: How dare Iran want all sanctions removed.
Iran has already stated if the sanctions are lifted they would immediatly return to the JCPOA agreement.
US is losing its chance. The next government in Iran will not even negotiate let alone making a new deal…!
Funny. The “seriousness” needs to be from the US side, not Iran: is the US serious about wanting to get back into the deal? After all, we’re the ones who left it!
Yes, and why should Iran be anxious to limit its sovereignty (again) to the likes of the US. For money? Give me liberty or. . .
yep iran willing to talk… us winssssss
Iran, knowing full well that the US will continue to sanction them as they have done for forty years, even more now that Iran has gained from the foolish US involvement in the region, and Iran doesn’t need nor trust any agreement with the US at all, is leading these Biden fools by the nose, making believe they are serious, and so the US will lose out (again). China has Iran’s back now, for one thing, but to keep it Iran has to pretend seriousness.
. . .from the State Dept presser, Apr 9 —
QUESTION: Thank you. . . . You said there are question marks about the seriousness of intent of the Iranian delegation. What, if anything, makes you think that they are serious?
SENIOR STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL: So thanks, Arshad. . . .Iran has said on many occasions that its intent is to come back into compliance with the deal, that it agreed to these indirect talks in Vienna. As I said, the atmosphere, as far as we can tell because everything was relayed back to us from the discussions that other delegations had with Iran, that it was businesslike and that they took the matter seriously. And that – again, we read that as a sign that perhaps they mean what they say when they claim that they want to find a way back to the JCPOA if the U.S. is back in compliance with, that they want to come back into compliance with the JCPOA if the United States is. . . .here
Compare this situation to that of US-NorthKorea, where the US (Trump) agreed to normalize relations and then NK would pursue denuclearization. But the US never removed its sanctions so NK said go fish. . . .Countries will not disarm to please their chief enemy who conducts economic warfare on them, and its silly to think that they would.
Don’t hold your breath for anything productive.
It dosen`t matter ifa deal is done whats to stop the next POTUS renaging on the deal ? , the Americans can`t be trusted and neither can the EU / Brits.
All of the Iran sanctions began and will end when our Congressmen quit receiving checks from AIPAC.
If the Euris had any balls like they have shown with Nordstream, theyd have met US bullying them into renewing sanctions on Iran with equivalent resolution and opened full trade relations with Tehran. The US actions would have been nullified. Their supine cowardice has contributed massively to where things are now at. It is now up to the Russians and Chinese to solve matters.
So Tel Aviv still determines US foreign policy.
Like Bill Clinton said after Netanyahu left the meeting: “Who is the Super Power here?”
No sanction? No way! The boss won’t allow it!
The US is making a big deal about the different types of sanctions, which with Iran are nuclear, terrorism and human rights. Washington would reverse the nuclear sanctions but not the other two bogus-based sanctions. Incapacitated by their own stupidity.