A report from Politico on Monday said the Biden administration was ready to offer a proposal to Iran that would give some sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran halting some activity of its civilian nuclear program, such as stopping enriching uranium at 20 percent.
An unnamed Iranian official responded to the report and told Iran’s Press TV on Tuesday that Tehran would only halt 20 percent enrichment if the US lifts all sanctions that have been reimposed since 2018. “Twenty percent uranium enrichment is in line with Paragraph 36 of the JCPOA and will be stopped only if the US lifts all the sanctions,” the official said.
Paragraph 36 of the JCPOA allows the agreement’s participants to suspend commitments if other signatories are out of compliance. Since the US withdrew from the deal in 2018 and is out of compliance, Iran’s nuclear activity outside of the limits of the JCPOA is technically not a violation of the agreement.
“The Biden administration is losing time, and if it fails to lift the sanctions soon, Iran will take the next steps, which will be further reduction of its JCPOA commitments,” the Iranian official told Press TV.
It’s not clear from the Politico report how much sanctions relief the US is willing to offer. Iran is under an enormous amount of sanctions. Some are crippling the economy, and others are more symbolic, which means the Biden administration has a lot of options of sanctions it could lift that would not really give Tehran any relief.
So far, the Biden administration has failed to make a significant effort to return to the JCPOA and rejected Iran’s earlier calls for the two countries to take mutual steps to revive the agreement. Now, the administration says it is seeking talks with Iran, and the US is trying to portray Iran as the difficult party.
The fact is, the US can revive the JCPOA at any time by lifting sanctions. Even the most hardline elements in Iran have said they are willing to return to the limits set by the JCPOA if the US lifts sanctions. But President Biden is under domestic pressure not to return to the original deal, and according to the Politico report, the president “appears in no rush to restore the original deal.”
How to have your cake and eat it too…???
Turns out that righteous rant about “rules based international order” only applies to “them”. As always we’re the “exception”.
Bingo!
Iran is legally in a good position. There is a legal clarity. US cannot act in a rational manner, as domestic politics will not allow a simple return to JCPOA, and return to 2018. US to remove sanctions and Iran to return to compliance.
But this legal clarity is opening the doors to Iran to trade with China and Russia and many countries un Asia. US is trying to woo ASEAN countries into anti-China block. And consequently not eager to sanction them for trading with Iran.
A real problem is shaping in Mianmar. Their Army day saw quite a parade of support. Russia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Bangladesh — and many more were on hand to show support to generals. Mianmar has already been called a Black Swan event. Not ever thought possible, yet it is shaping as something new. Region is with few exceptions supporting stability. Which in this case stands for not supporting any external intervention.
What will this do to “containing China”. Us can embark on China containment or chose interventionism — but it cannot do both.
US does not know the meaning of “Legally”…!
US cannot contain China…It cannot invade China either…!
US has no intentions whatever to lift the crippling sanctions. Iran has no intention to be bullied by Uncle Sam.
China has hooked up with Iran, and Russia has too.
US is playing games & Iran knows it. Heres what would happen if Iran moved first & went back to full compliance, US would drag its feet for weeks or months & do nothing to lift sanctions so why would Iran trust them
True. And that’s why they should do it. It would prove once and for all that the US has no intention of returning to the deal. Iran should loudly announce they are coming into compliance and just as loudly tell the world to watch as the US moves the goalposts yet once again. At that point they should leave the deal and place the blame for its demise squarely where it belongs, on the US.
The US and their satrap nations of the EU have shown that they are simply not capable or worthy of trust. Going forward, any agreements with both should either be front-loaded or structured such that the deal’s continuation is obviously in the interest of the US/EU.
Iran is correct. Reviving the JCPOA is the ONLY acceptable starting point … Open new negotiations after that if (Bibi) demands other concessions.
https://www.indianpunchline.com/the-china-iran-pact-is-a-game-changer-part-ii/
China-Iran Pact a Game Changer.
While reading this piece, I began to wonder if a defense pact among Asian and Middle East nations is being proposed by either Russia or China.
I’m not concluding NATO should be the template. While nations need to protect their borders and develop domestic law enforcement infrastructure, building a defense industry does have its drawbacks, other than being a jobs or make work program.
While the US spends almost a trillion to sustain many illusions, I suggest to sovereigns their main focus should be counterterrorism in nature, i.e., resisting US efforts at regime change wherever their capricious thoughts take them.
The last I’ve read via Russia Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, 147 nations have experienced Washington’s pressure.
The Shanghai Cooperation Agreement is pretty close to a NATO like military alliance