Iran, IAEA Restart Talks, Neither Side Has Changed Positions

Little hope for compromise from either side

Talks between Iran and the IAEA are stalemated, seemingly for good, but IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi announced Monday that talks were restarting. He added he wants clarification on safeguard issues.

This marks the restart of safeguard talks which have gone unfulfilled for years, leading only to more and more questions. Though not strictly linked to JCPOA talks, it’s difficult to envision progress on those without the IAEA being satisfied.

That’s a big problem going forward, as the US and others who don’t want the JCPOA settled just yet are pressuring the IAEA to remain unsatisfied on the matter.

The IAEA resumption of talks is noteworthy because Iran has indicated they consider the safeguards issues answered long ago, and neither side has shown any change in stance.

This means the next round of talks is just that, another round, with both sides heading in without a deal in reach, and just waiting to spin the latest failure as the other side’s fault.

There is no word of JCPOA talks in Vienna resuming, with the US and others busy berating Iran for its handling of protests lately and not looking to engage, or even appear to engage.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.