The U.S. and Iran are back at the negotiating table in Vienna, holding indirect talks aimed at restarting the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear deal the U.S. left in 2018. This move marks a significant shift in Washington's approach under President Joe Biden, who has sought to renegotiate the agreement initially struck during the Obama administration.
Since the Trump administration's exit from the JCPOA, Iran has intensified its nuclear enrichment program and maintained that it will not engage in direct talks until the U.S. lifts crippling economic sanctions. The current talks involve not just the U.S. and Iran but also the JCPOA's other signatories: China, the UK, France, Germany, and Russia. European Union officials are facilitating the discussions, hoping to bridge gaps between the two nations.
U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price emphasized the complexity of the negotiations, stating, \"These are early days. We don't anticipate an early or immediate breakthrough, as these discussions, we fully expect, will be difficult.\" Meanwhile, Iranian officials have made it clear that the removal of all U.S. sanctions is a non-negotiable demand.
China has also entered the dialogue, with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs urging the U.S. to lift sanctions unconditionally and return to the agreement. Zhao Lijian highlighted China's constructive role in the negotiations, emphasizing the importance of fully complying with the deal to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis.
As both sides await the other's first move, the role of the P5+1 nations remains crucial. China, in particular, has strengthened its ties with Iran through recent long-term investment deals, underscoring its position as Iran's largest trading partner.
With the Iranian economy under significant strain from sanctions and political pressure mounting, the outcome of these talks could have far-reaching implications for regional stability and global nuclear non-proliferation efforts.
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Iran and the U.S. taking part in nuclear deal talks in Vienna
cgtn.com
