A top diplomat from European and U.S. powers will hold talks Thursday to see how they can revive the 2015 deal on Iran’s nuclear campaign, days ahead of a date set by Tehran that could hamper the her efforts by limiting studies.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will host his German and British peers in Paris, with America’s new chief diplomat Antony Blinken coming together via video conference, the foreign ministry said. France Wednesday.
Analysts say there is only a small window of opportunity left to save the landmark deal, which was treated as an almost fatal blow as former US President Donald Trump walked out of the contract in 2018.
Joe Biden’s administration has said they are willing to go back to the deal and start lifting sanctions if Tehran returns to full compliance, a pre-deal that Tehran is arguing for.
Adding to the tensions, Iran plans to limit some UN nuclear investigations if the U.S. does not lift the sanctions imposed from 2018 by February 21, under the terms of a bill passed by its parliament in December .
‘On the cards’
The Head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi is to travel to Tehran on Saturday for talks with Iranian authorities to find a solution for ongoing investigations in the country, the group said.
He warned that Tehran’s threat threat would “adversely affect the IAEA’s certification and inspection activities in the country.”
Ellie Geranmayeh, senior policy officer at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said it was “unlikely” that Thursday’s E3 / US meeting would lead to an important political or economic move to prevent Iran from proceeding with the constraints.
“This date has been on the cards for months, and without economic relief Iran’s leaders feel they are in a hurry to move forward,” she told AFP.
The Joint Integrated Action Plan (JCPOA), signed in Vienna in 2015, was based on Iran providing protections that would not make an atomic bomb, in exchange for a reduction in international sanctions. gradually.
But Iran has reversed its nuclear deal against the deal after U.S. sanctions were lifted as part of Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy to weaken Iran’s rule.
The UN nuclear watchdog said last week that Iran had begun extracting uranium metal in a new breach of the treaty, urging European powers to warn that Tehran ” weakening the opportunity for renewed diplomacy. “
‘Action Only’
While Iranian policy is ultimately confirmed by Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s main elections in June will add further time pressure.
President Hassan Rouhani – a leading candidate for nuclear diplomacy with global powers – is expected to step down after serving the two largest consecutive terms, and perhaps a tougher figure replacing it.
“There is a short window to limit the potential damage from the next steps in Iran, for example by minimizing the impact of such moves on the quality of studies by international analysts,” he said. Geranmayeh.
She said Washington should move in political and practical terms to show Iran that the Biden administration is “distance itself from the greatest pressure in Trump’s time.”
Rouhani on Wednesday said Iran was ready to hold talks with Grossi and strongly denied that the move would involve the dismissal of investigators.
“Foreign propaganda has begun, claiming that you are eliminating IAEA investigators. Why are you lying?” Rouhani said in comments on television to his cabinet.
“If it wants to compromise, it can compromise,” Rouhani said, stressing that the new measure agreed by parliament “is not about our nuclear activity being left unchecked”.
Khamenei stressed on Wednesday that Iran wanted to see action from the U.S. administration that would help its economy.
“The Islamic republic will not be satisfied this time with words and promises,” he said in a televised speech. “This time, just action, action. If we see action from the other side, we will act too. “