Israeli Channel 12: Iran and World Powers Likely to Reach Agreement Within One to Two Weeks

Israeli television network Channel 12 announced on Wednesday evening, March 1st, that the chances of reaching a new nuclear agreement between world powers and Iran have significantly increased, and this agreement could materialize within one to two weeks.

The news network reported, citing informed sources, that the American delegation has responded positively to many of Iran’s requests for sanctions relief, and will lift sanctions on a large number of individuals close to the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran and financial institutions under his supervision.

Among those who, according to this news network’s report, will have sanctions lifted are Hossein Dehqan, former defense minister and former commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to the leader of the Islamic Republic on international affairs and former foreign minister, and Mohsen Rezaei, former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Sanctions will also be lifted from institutions such as the Foundation of Oppressed.

According to this network’s claim, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s request to lift direct sanctions against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has also been granted in principle.

The report also references an agreement on the release of American prisoners from Evin Prison in Iran.

Channel 12 then added, citing sources close to American delegations and Mikhail Ulyanov, head of the Russian delegation in Vienna talks, that Washington has principled readiness to sign a new agreement with Iran very soon, even next week.

This media outlet described the details of the American delegation’s agreements in Vienna talks, from Israel’s perspective, as “American surrender.”

The governments of Israel and the United States have not reacted to this report. However, Israel has explicitly stated that “it has always opposed the JCPOA and opposes its revival even more.”

The Israeli network’s report was published while statements by Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, on March 11th, have dampened some of the optimism of recent days regarding an imminent agreement to revive the JCPOA.

Mr. Grossi emphasized that not only he but no other IAEA official will ever be able to permanently close the files opened regarding uranium traces found at several old Iranian nuclear sites without complete investigation and reaching the truth.

Closing the aforementioned files was one of three emphatic requests by Iran last week to pave the way for reviving the JCPOA.

According to reports, the Emir of Qatar, during a two-week-old visit of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Doha, attempted to encourage Iran to back down from this demand but failed.

The Israeli government played an important role in recent years in exposing Iran’s suspicious nuclear activities and the discovery of uranium traces at several locations in Iran. The Agency subsequently, confirming Israeli reports, announced that these sites in Iran are under suspicion and the Islamic Republic must provide convincing explanations about their activities.

Despite Mr. Grossi’s emphasis on keeping the aforementioned files open against Iran, he said on Wednesday that he remains hopeful about the continuation of Vienna talks. There are also reports of Grossi’s imminent travel to Tehran. According to a Wall Street Journal reporter, this trip will begin on Friday.

It is said that the Iranian delegation, headed by Ali Bagheri Kani, after consultations last weekend in Tehran with senior Islamic Republic officials about Vienna talks results, has returned to Austria with a “tougher” stance.

Nevertheless, very intensive negotiations between Mr. Bagheri Kani and the Iranian delegation with delegations present in Vienna have been underway since Monday of this week and continue.

Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, whose country has active participation in Vienna talks, said during a visit to Israel on March 11th that reaching an agreement to revive the JCPOA cannot be delayed any further.

Mr. Scholz, at a joint press conference with Israel’s Prime Minister, said that critical moments of decision-making for Iran have arrived.

On the other hand, as the conclusion of Vienna talks approaches, Israel’s Prime Minister, on Tuesday and Wednesday, emphasized in various sessions that even if America returns to the JCPOA, Israel will not be bound by any agreement.

Naftali Bennett told Mossad forces this week that regardless of how Vienna talks conclude, it is the duty of Mossad and the Israeli army to “prevent Iran from achieving nuclear capability.” He provided no further clarification on this duty.

American Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, during a two-week-old visit to Israel, had said that a large number of Iranian scientists have faced incidents, and we expect these incidents to increase.

Source: Radio Farda