The US and Iran are at odds over key issues to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
The eighth round of indirect negotiations between the US and Iran to revive the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, is still ongoing in Vienna. Iranian and Western diplomats told Reuters that the main sticking points are the scope of sanctions relief and Iran’s calls for verification methods and guarantees that the US won’t withdraw from the JCPOA again.
“Americans should give assurances that no new sanctions under any label would be imposed on Iran in future. We need guarantees that America will not abandon the deal again,” a senior Iranian official said.
The Americans insist that they cannot provide guarantees that a future US administration won’t withdraw from the JCPOA since it is not a legally-binding treaty. In earlier negotiations with the previous Iranian government, Biden wasted a chance to revive the deal by refusing to guarantee that he would not leave the JCPOA during his term in office.
Iran also wants a few weeks to verify sanctions relief before it takes steps to bring its nuclear program back within the strict limits set by the JCPOA, but the Iranian official said the US thinks it should only take a few days.
Throughout the talks, the US and its European allies have been warning that time is running out to revive the deal. A Western diplomat told Reuters that “early February is a realistic end-date for Vienna talks.” Another Western diplomat said it’s not clear if “Iran really wants a deal.”
The idea that Iran isn’t serious about reviving the deal was repeated by Western officials for weeks after the JCPOA talks first restarted at the end of November. This judgment was based on the fact that Tehran wanted more sanctions relief than Washington initially wanted to give.
This month, the US started saying that some progress is being made in Vienna. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Wednesday that “modest progress” has been made but warned it might not be enough the revive the JCPOA.
Don’t trust the USA. Biden and Blinken are terrible liars.
Terrible people. Outstanding liars.
At least they are good at something, even if it is lying…
“US, Iran at Odds Over Guarantees and Verification for Sanctions Relief”
Duh.
Also, you know why February is the estimated “end date” for the talks? Because that’s when the war between Ukraine and Russia starts, most likely. No one’s going to care about Iran when that happens.
To be fair, February is a lousy time to launch a war in eastern Ukraine.
My understanding is the requirement is that the ground be hard, which I assume takes a month or two of winter. Apparently outside of summer, Ukraine is mostly mud.
However, there’s this:
Mud could complicate possible Russian plans for an invasion of Ukraine, US officials say
https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-invasion-of-ukraine-mud-complication-2022-1
Apparently there’s been a mild winter and the ground hasn’t fully hardened. But one expert cited says the Russians won’t have any real problem with that, which is probably true.
The other point, though, is that Russia probably doesn’t need a lot of tanks and armored vehicles to take out most of Ukraine’s military. Stand-off weapons and air power might degrade the Ukraine military enough to make it collapse, and then the Donbass military can finish the job.
Of course, it’s equally possible that the whole thing will be put off until summer. But I suspect Zelensky can’t wait that long and neither can the CIA and the neocons.
Summer works nicely for me. We can bbq in between battles and break up the monotony of war… Terrible joke, and I apologize.
Actually, pretty accurate. Not even a joke for the apathetic and we are loaded with those types. Of course, if WW3 breaks out, they may take heed.
WRU:
You’re a philosopher (forgive me if I have said this before, I still have some memory issues from may head injury).donna
Unfortunately I live in an apartment, no BBQ for me. Although I do have an indoor smokeless griddle. 🙂
Those Russian thermobaric rocket launchers I referenced in another thread, however, promise a lot of BBQ for the Ukrainian military.
Sounds perfect and pardon my tasteless humor…
Without even reading the article one can safely day that US is at odds with just about everybody in the world.
BINGO!
It’s a full-time job Bianca!
Both sides positioning for the inevitable failure of the talks. We already know that the US can’t guarantee we will keep to the deal. And we already know Iran won’t capitulate completely. The only way this would work is if Iran would accept a worthless deal, and I don’t see any reason they would.
“Iran also wants a few weeks to verify sanctions relief before it takes steps to bring its nuclear program back within the strict limits set by the JCPOA, but the Iranian official said the US thinks it should only take a few days.”____ Pipe dreaming…! The sanction relief verification will take at least a few months… Knowing that US can instantly re-sanction Iran, the relief sustainability becomes important for a lasting successful deal…!
They should trash the old deal and implement something new and fresh, something hopeful. There needs to be more movement in the deal. The Iranians need to see something more optimistic, more than just being pigeon hold in a box.
I disagree. They shouldn’t have even come back to the “bargaining” table. The old deal is the most intrusive deal ever negotiated. The NPT on steroids.
Ah, I see… Still, I would like to see something implemented that keeps us from any dangerous level of possible confrontation…
The only deal that will be acceptable to US/Isarel is for Iran to be completely neutered and capitulate to every US/Israel demand. That will also be the only way there will be no chance of possible confrontation. Iran has to draw a line in the sand or give up its sovereignty.
Thanks Wars r us. I agree.
So do I. Nothing was wrong with the original deal except it was drawn up during the Obama administration. The only reason Trump walked away. You mention the NPT. Iran signed it in 1968 ratified the same in 1970. So, when does Israel sign? Criickets……………………………
DV, I disagree too…Nothing wrong with the original deal… In fact, Iran could have been more demand-full and ask for deserving compensation of the illegal sanctions for all these years which amounts to over $1 Trillion…!
ah….
WRU:
Can I ask you a personal question (and it will sound silly so I beg your pardon)?… Are you a Scorpio?
I am…!
I hate to admit I know the answer to that, but no.
LOL. That’s good.
This all has to do with expanding the deal to include non-nuclear areas such as ballistic missiles. Were the Biden Administration negotiating in good faith, the sanctions would have been lifting by the evening of January 20th, 2021. If it wanted to appear tough, they could put a snapback provision on the sanctions contingent upon IAEA certification within one year.