German Foreign Minister: Iran Has Squandered Much Trust So Far
Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s new foreign minister, said during a meeting with her American counterpart that Iran has squandered much trust during nuclear negotiations so far. She emphasized that the negotiations have entered a decisive phase.
Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s foreign minister, who traveled to Washington to meet and negotiate with Antony Blinken, her American counterpart, and other officials of the country, participated in a joint press conference with the head of American diplomacy on Wednesday, January 5.
In this press conference, while emphasizing “the common objectives of America and Germany regarding Iran and efforts to revive the nuclear agreement with this country,” she said that Berlin and Washington are “pursuing a common path” as far as Iran is concerned, and “we are entering a decisive phase in this regard.”
According to Western officials, Vienna negotiations will enter a sensitive and final phase in the coming two weeks.
Barebock’s first trip to America, which was scheduled to last three and a half days, was limited to a few hours due to the severe outbreak of Omicron in the country and the weather conditions, and a visit to New York was also canceled from this trip. During the hours she spent in Washington, she only managed to meet and talk with Blinken and Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
In the negotiation with Blinken, in addition to the JCPOA negotiations in Vienna, the Ukraine crisis and Russian threats against the country were also the focus of talks.
The European Union has been concerned in recent days that the continuation of rounds of negotiations between the United States and NATO with Russia, while sidelining the European Union from interactions related to Ukraine and marginalizing its role in this crisis. Coordination between America and Europe in negotiations with Russia in the coming days formed part of Baerbock’s talks with Blinken.
Regarding the resolution of the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, American and Russian officials are scheduled to meet in Geneva on January 10 and 11 (December 20 and 21). The formation of a NATO-Russia Council meeting as well as the holding of a conference of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe are also planned for subsequent days.
Somewhat Different Assessments of the Vienna Negotiations Process
Negotiations related to the revival of the JCPOA are scheduled to continue in Vienna today, Thursday, December 16.
Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, also said on Tuesday at the first press conference of the new year 2022 that if the parties do not reach an understanding soon in Vienna negotiations, Iran’s actions will accelerate and the opportunity for continuing talks will be lost.
He also clarified that “Vienna negotiations have made minimal progress and the United States hopes this progress will expand this week.”
Apparently, Iran’s abandonment of insistence on sidelining the agreements from six rounds of negotiations during Hassan Rouhani’s government and flexibility regarding the scope of sanctions relief are among the progress that Price has referred to.
Western countries that are members of the P4+1 group, which directly negotiate with Iran, and the United States, which is indirectly present in these negotiations, have also emphasized the desire that in addition to discussing Iran’s demands regarding sanctions relief, the matter of how and when this country returns to JCPOA commitments and reversing the progress it has made in enriched uranium stockpiling and advanced centrifuge construction should also be on the agenda.
Price has clarified in this regard that “as long as agreement has not been reached on all points, effectively nothing has been agreed upon.”
Iran and Russia have a more optimistic assessment of the Vienna negotiations. According to IRNA reports, Iran’s official news agency, Ali Bagheri, head of the Iranian delegation in Vienna negotiations, in his latest assessment of the progress of talks, said that meaningful and forward-moving negotiations are underway. He, speaking to journalists Wednesday night in Vienna, announced the “continuation of efforts to reach a final agreement.”
According to Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s senior negotiator, Vienna talks are continuous and ongoing between negotiating delegations and “progress in the negotiation process is evident.” Rejecting the imposition of deadlines in diplomatic interactions and negotiations, he said that “negotiations should be pursued purposefully to reach a final agreement.”
Source: DW
