Pessimism prevails as Iran nuclear talks resume

The seventh round of negotiations to restore full implementation of the JCPOA resumed in Vienna this week. The work began with a meeting of the Joint Commission of the States Parties to the nuclear deal. All parties reaffirmed their intention to make every effort to identify practical steps required to restart the comprehensive implementation of the JCPOA in its original form, without additions or withdrawals. Following the meeting, it was decided to continue intensive interaction, including at the expert level within the working groups on sanctions and nuclear issues, the Russian Foreign Ministry reports.

Meanwhile, as Al-Monitor writes, on the eve of a new round of talks, Iranian Foreign Minister expressed doubt that Western countries are ready to fulfill Tehran's demands. The US has announced "additional measures" in case of diplomacy's fail.

Caution, or perhaps a lack of optimism, filled the atmosphere in Vienna’s Coburg Hotel as representatives from Iran and world powers convened for a fresh round of talks on resurrecting the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

On the eve of the new meetings, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian did not appear overoptimistic in comments that further marked the complexities ahead. “We are in doubts that the Western parties are even ready to grant sanctions relief,” he declared in an Instagram post. “Time has come for practical measures,” the Iranian minister noted, complaining that in the past eight years “enough unfulfilled promises have been offered by the Western sides.”

The fresh round was being held at the deputy foreign minister level, with delegations from Iran, China, Russia, the UK, France and Germany. The United States has sent its own team for an indirect engagement, seeking re-entry into the accord, which has been on life support since it was abandoned by former president Donald Trump in 2018.

Last week’s talks were concluded with Iran presenting its two separate proposals on sanctions removal, and nuclear enrichment, which has been ramped up in recent months in what is seen by the West as a serious breach of the JCPOA. And the Iranian package has complicated the prospects for a quicker pathway, as it has disappointed the European signatories.

The senior EU diplomat, Enrique Mora, who led the meeting, told reporters both sides expressed “a renewed sense of purpose on the need to work and to reach an agreement on bringing the JCPOA back to life.”

Iran’s leading negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani stressed, “all parties want to narrow the gaps.” He noted that Tehran will continue the talks “based on its previous position.” Guarantees that future US administrations will not walk away from the new deal are among the contentious conditions Iran has strictly set.

The United States has declared that all options remain on the table if Iran refuses to return to compliance. With no glimmering hopes coming from Vienna, the White House on Thursday spoke of “preparation for a range of additional options” and “measures if diplomacy cannot get on track soon and if Iran’s nuclear program continues to accelerate.”  

On the same day, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz was in Arlington, Virginia. The Reuters news agency reported that plans for an Iran-focused joint military exercise were expected to be on the agenda.