Iran willing to hold direct talks with European parties for a return to the JCPOA: Report

ByNews Desk- The Cradle 

The news comes on the same day as Iranian Deputy FM for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri's meeting with EU Foreign Policy Chief Enrique Mora in Brussels

On 27 October, Iranian media reported the Islamic Republic’s readiness to hold direct talks with the three European signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal.

According to the report by Press TV, Iran has invited officials from the three nations for visits to Tehran or offered trips to the trios’ respective capitals for the talks. However, the report states that the country has received no response so far.

The news coincides with a visit by the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs to Brussels where he will hold talks with EU Foreign Policy Chief Enrique Mora.

On a busy day of diplomatic activity in Brussels, I had an early morning meeting & working breakfast with Theodora Gentzis, Secretary General of the FM of the Kingdom of Belgium, at Palais d’Egmont.
We discussed a host of bilateral issues, Afghanistan and other int’l matters. pic.twitter.com/ihkzNlEEPd

— علی باقری‌کنی (@Bagheri_Kani) October 27, 2021

Last April, Iran, along with six world powers, began negotiations in Vienna to revive the Obama-era deal, which provided sanctions relief for the country in exchange for limiting the development of their nuclear energy program.

But the deal effectively ended in 2018 when former US President Donald Trump decided to unilaterally pull out from it in order to begin a “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign against the Islamic Republic.

Since then, Tehran has continued to develop its nuclear energy program past the limitations imposed on them by the JCPOA, while also facing asphyxiating sanctions by the US and several sabotage attempts coming from Israel.

The Vienna talks have been placed on hold since June when Ebrahim Raisi was sworn in as Iran’s new President. Since his inauguration, Raisi has made it abundantly clear that any return to the JCPOA will have to come with the guarantee that Iran’s rights will be respected above all.

Raisi has also said that his administration is ready to reverse the country’s advancements in enriching uranium if US President Joe Biden lifts all economic sanctions placed on Iran.

However, recent reports indicate that Biden himself has become the biggest barrier for Iran’s return to the JCPOA, as he has refused to commit to staying in the deal until the end of his term in office.