In a significant move towards easing tensions, the U.S. and Iran are holding indirect talks in Vienna today to try and restart the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—the nuclear deal that Washington abandoned in 2018. 🇺🇸🇮🇷
The previous administration, led by former President Donald Trump, labeled the deal as \"one-sided… and defective at its core.\" In retaliation, Iran ramped up its nuclear enrichment program and declared it would not engage in direct talks with the U.S. until crippling economic sanctions are lifted.
The JCPOA originally included five other nations: the Chinese mainland, the UK, France, Germany, and Russia. Diplomats from these countries are present in the Austrian capital, with European Union officials acting as intermediaries between the U.S. and Iran. 🌍🤝
\"These are early days. We don't anticipate an early or immediate breakthrough, as these discussions, we fully expect, will be difficult,\" stated U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price.
Although the talks are indirect, they mark a noteworthy shift in Washington's approach under President Joe Biden, who played a key role in the Obama administration that first established the JCPOA in 2015. Biden has committed to renegotiating the agreement to address the current challenges.
On Iran’s side, the foreign ministry emphasized that the primary goal of Tuesday's talks is to determine \"the path of lifting sanctions.\" An Iranian official told Reuters, \"Our agenda during the meeting [in Vienna] will be removal of all U.S. sanctions against Iran … as our supreme leader has said repeatedly, anything less than that will not be accepted by Tehran.\" 🇮🇷🔄
From the American perspective, the state department outlined that the focus is on the steps Iran would need to take to return to compliance with the deal.
The Chinese Mainland Calls for Lifting of Sanctions
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Zhao Lijian commented, \"I would like to emphasize that the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the comprehensive agreement undermines the consensus reached by all parties and is the root of the current Iranian nuclear crisis. The U.S. should return unconditionally to the agreement, lift all illegal sanctions and stop its long-arm jurisdiction over third parties. We hope that all concerned parties can distinguish between right and wrong.\" 🇨🇳🔍
He continued, \"We urge the U.S. to take practical measures on lifting sanctions and fully comply with the deal as soon as possible. The Chinese mainland has always played a constructive role on the Iranian nuclear issue and will continue to work to push the agreement back on track … while firmly safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests.\"
As is often the case in Iran nuclear talks over the past decade, both sides are waiting for the other to make the first move. Just like in 2015, the other nations in the P5+1 group have a crucial role in the negotiations, including the Chinese mainland, which recently signed a long-term investment deal with Iran and remains its biggest and most important trading partner.
