The US and Iran are still at odds over “significant issues,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Monday as the Vienna nuclear deal talks are on pause.
“Important and significant issues remain regarding the removal of sanctions that have not made an agreement possible so far,” Khatibzadeh said. He reiterated Iran’s calls for guarantees that the US won’t withdraw from the nuclear deal again.
Despite the differences, Khatibzadeh still said “very significant progress” was made during the previous three weeks of negotiations. The talks were put on pause Friday and are expected to resume sometime this week. Participants on all sides have said the negotiations are at the point where “political decisions” need to be made.
“The other parties know the differences clearly. They need to make political decisions, especially in Washington,” Khatibzadeh said. “We await political decisions by Washington upon the return of the US delegation.”
Also on Monday, a US official repeated warnings that time is running out on the talks and urged Tehran to negotiate directly. The two sides have been negotiating indirectly with the help of the EU and the other remaining nuclear deal participants: China, Russia, the UK, France, and Germany.
“If our goal is to reach an understanding quickly … the optimal way to do that, in any negotiation, is for the parties that have the most at stake to meet directly,” the US official said. Last week, Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran was willing to negotiate with the US directly if that’s what it takes to reach a “good agreement.”
The major sticking point between the US and Iran is reportedly over the guarantees Tehran is seeking. Since the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, is not a treaty, future US administrations are not bound by it.
During earlier negotiations with the previous Iranian government, Tehran was willing to settle for a promise that President Biden would stay in the JCPOA during his term in office. But Biden refused, wasting the opportunity to revive the deal.
The US with Israeli help simplified Iran’s political decision from ‘Surrender or die’, to ‘Surrender and die’.
The US won’t take ‘no’ for an answer, but can’t force a ‘yes’, so negotiations will continue.
““Important and significant issues remain regarding the removal of sanctions that have not made an agreement possible so far,”
No removal of sanctions and no guarantees of sticking to the deal. Those two things are the entire reason for the negotiations! So why are they still talking? I know Iranians are patient negotiators, but give it a rest already!
Yes, the double bird and walk away.
Well, for internal and external consumption, Iran needs to show its not their fault the deal is not coming back. But I am glad that, unlike the previous govt, it looks like this one will not accept a useless deal just for show.
One advantage to dragging these out, I suppose, is that they delay the war and give Iran time to improve their defenses – possibly with Russian help. I just wish everyone would stop saying “we’re making progress” when they obviously are not.
Obviously the Iranians value getting the sanctions lifted more than they want to resume enrichment. But they also want the US to stick to whatever deal they negotiate. Iran would probably be okay with the US leaving minor sanctions in place, but curbing the US’ perfidy is another matter.
How long is “time is running out” until it runs out?
Anyway, the mid-East is every day shifting more Iran’s way. Even Saudi Arabia and the UAE are seeking separate peace. For sure, time is running out for the Zionist empire.
“Time is running out for for the Zionist Empire” is music to my ears and puts a slight smile on my face. I certainly do hope that it is so!
There is no Zionist empire. Do you think human conflict is Funny?
Do you think people only smile when they think something is funny? Gad your dense.