Iran Nuclear Talks resumed in Vienna to limit Iranian Nuclear Capabilities

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On Monday, Iran and world powers returned to Vienna to resume talks and restore the imperiled 2015 deal that limited Iranian nuclear capabilities. The spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry, Saeed Khatibzadeh said, “Tehran was firmly determined to salvage the deal”. Last week, the US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Washington sought a mutual return to compliance in what will be the seventh round of talks. The Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said, “We are serious about negotiations and reaching an agreement”. The US lead negotiator Robert Malley earlier said, “Let’s get back into the deal. Let’s do it by closing the remaining issues that were left open in June after six rounds of talks. But let’s hurry up because time is not on our side”.

The Middle East and Iran specialist at Chatham House, Sanam Vakil said, “The Iranians would like the Americans to show goodwill and make accommodations and the Americans would like Iranians to show goodwill. But this five-month pause has widened the misperceptions of each other and this has created a very pessimistic environment”. Point to be noted that Iran, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, China, and the European Union last met in the Austrian capital to discuss restoring the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) that held the Iranian nuclear program in check, the ground has shifted significantly. The Tehran government has changed with the new hardline administration of President Ebrahim Raisi likely making any negotiations tougher. Iran has upped its program and expanded its output of nuclear material while stonewalling inspectors seeking more information and access to its sensitive facilities.

Earlier this month, the inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency estimated that Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium was nearly 2,500 kilograms, more than enough to fuel a nuclear warhead or two if Iran were to break out of its treaty obligations and attempt to assemble a bomb. The delay has emboldened the JCPOA’s long-standing opponents. The regime launched a violent crackdown on farmers and environmental activists over the weekend peacefully protesting the drying out of a beloved and historic river in the city of Isfahan. American Republicans maintain their staunch opposition to the deal thwarted by their standard-bearer, Trump. The US administration of President Joseph Biden has grown weaker since the last round of talks. Sanam Vakil also said, “The domestic climate in both Iran and the United States can muddy swift progress”.