Indirect talks between the US and Iran to revive the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, will resume Saturday in Vienna, Iran’s deputy foreign minister said on Friday.
“The participants are expected to continue consultations on the possible return of the United States to the nuclear accord and ensuring the full and effective implementation of this agreement,” said Abbas Araqchi.
The talks have been ongoing since April and will enter their sixth-round Saturday. The process is being dragged out because the Biden administration refuses to lift all Trump-era sanctions on Iran.
On Thursday, the US lifted sanctions on three former Iranian officials and two companies that had previously traded Iranian oil. US officials insisted the move had nothing to do with the Vienna talks. Either way, it could have been a small sign of goodwill, but the US ruined whatever positive signal it could have sent by slapping more sanctions on an Iranian network it accused of funding Yemen’s Houthis.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh took aim at the US move in comments on Friday. “Selective US delistings are neither related to JCPOA talks nor viewed as signals of goodwill — specially when coupled with renewed economic terrorism,” he wrote on Twitter.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been sending bad signals to Iran leading up to the next round of talks. On Tuesday, Blinken said even if the US rejoins the JCPOA, “hundreds” of sanctions would remain on Iran, including Trump-era measures.
If Iranian officials read antiwar.com every day they’d know how they are wasting their time. Why continue with this charade? Do they understand what mental midgets we have in our congress?
https://news.antiwar.com/2021/06/11/gop-senators-want-power-to-veto-us-return-to-iran-deal/
Link: GOP senators push for Hill veto power over a future U.S.-Iran deal
I’m cynical enough to speculate Blinken/Biden coordinated this “veto power” with the Republicans to guarantee there won’t be a renewal of the Nuclear Deal unless Iran grovels and totally surrenders.
Biden is a warmonger, and always has been. He has even bragged about always being in bed with the Apartheid state.
I voted Biden because I wanted Trump & Chaos to be gone. There were no viable third party candidates, and I wanted to be sure Trump & Chaos was gone.
You are correct about Biden, extremely correct. It is easy to conduct war from the cheap seats, which is where Biden, the DNC and the GOP are sitting.
The “negotiations” are crapola. Everyone knows it. There is only one party or group to appease and that is AIPAC.
Secondarily is the MIC.
Thirdly is Wall Street.
Iran is a dead country walking. The attack on Iran is a matter of when, not if.
‘Murica! The mostess, bestess country in the whole wide world, a subsidiary of Israel…………………
Jo Jorgensen was better than either Trump or Biden. It was an easy choice.
Attacking Iran-an unprovoked act of aggression, will be extremely stupid if the USA/Israel actually try it.
What on earth is the point of talks? The USA has to lift all sanctions, which of course are completely illegal, and perhaps Iran will respond. Why would Iran agree to “talks”???? Iran is NOT the danger to peace.
The point of talks is to play for time. That’s not a bad thing, sometimes slowing down the rush to war allows us to avoid conflict, rethink impulsive maneuvers, and reach agreements.