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The nuclear powers, made up of Russia, the United Kingdom, France and China, sat down in Vienna to resume talks with Iran with the aim of trying to save the nuclear agreement signed in 2015. The main subject of the deal was the withdrawal of sanctions on Tehran , although in the meeting the great absentee was the United States.
The feelings are positive after the first contact in months, but there is still a lot to talk about. The nuclear powers began on Monday the round of meetings with Iran to try to save the 2015 nuclear agreement, which would prevent the Persian nation from developing its own nuclear arsenal, something that the international community considers a danger.
The talks to refloat the pact had been paralyzed for months, so it was urgent to take action on the matter before the historic understanding began to agonize. The situation is much more critical than in 2015. Although Iran has promised not to develop its atomic weapons, it has been doing so since the United States decided to exit the agreement during the term of former President Donald Trump.
The Republican’s political movement was what blew up Tehran’s confidence and what has made this historic agreement have to be re-negotiated, although now under different conditions. Iran is led by the ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisi and the main point of discussion is the lifting of sanctions.
Back in Vienna for 7th round of talks to bring #JCPOA back on track. Intense preparatory work ongoing: met yesterday @Bagheri_Kani, Ambassador Wang Qun and @Amb_Ulyanov. This morning I will also meet with European and US colleagues ahead of the Joint Commission in the afternoon.
– Enrique Mora (@enriquemora_) November 29, 2021
During this first day, the negotiators of the nuclear countries highlighted that Iran refused to establish agreements at any point until it began to eliminate the entire order of sanctions that fall on the country and that have been weighing down its economy since 2018. Those present in The table pledged to create working groups to study the progressive elimination of these sanctions, something that Tehran celebrated.
“Tomorrow morning the working group for the lifting of the illegal and cruel sanctions against Iran will begin to work. It is a considerable achievement that the 4 + 1 (the five powers) have accepted Iran’s demand that the sanctions be dealt with first. sanctions and then other issues, “said Iranian chief negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani.
However, the main implicated in the issuance of these sanctions against the Islamic republic was not sitting at the table. The United States cannot be an active pact in the negotiations despite being the main axis of the problem and the solution. Having withdrawn in 2018, the Iranian delegation refused to sit with the US representatives, something that undoubtedly hinders the process.
The United States has a voice at the table through the representative of the European Union since the Administration of President Joe Biden decided to try to resume the agreement, although with some nuances on sanctions. The democrat has not been entirely convinced about withdrawing these sanctions since he fears the rapid progress towards the atomic bomb that Iran has achieved in these years.
The general feeling is that Iran wants to resume the agreement because during its brief period – barely two years – it experienced a short economic revival that allowed its population to improve their conditions. But the main problem is that, having made so much progress in its nuclear program, the negotiations are against the clock.
The White House, for its part, released a statement on Monday in which it claimed to be committed “to democracy” and to “trying to save the 2015 nuclear pact.” This was stated by US Government spokesperson Jen Psaki, stating that “without a doubt, our best way to address (the differences with Iran) is through diplomacy, that is the appropriate approach.”
In recent days pessimistic forecasts had circulated after US diplomats warned that the signs that were looming “were not particularly encouraging” and that the change of government in Iran could contribute to the hardening of its demands and a breach of what was agreed.
With Reuters and EFE
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