US Issues Restrained Response to Iran’s Proposal for Return to JCPOA
Following Iran’s Foreign Minister’s proposal for the European Union to play a mediating role in bringing the United States back to the nuclear agreement, a US State Department spokesperson said it is not yet time to discuss such proposals.
Ned Price, spokesperson for the US State Department, responded on Tuesday, February 2, to Mohammad Javad Zarif’s, Iran’s Foreign Minister, proposal regarding the European Union’s mediating role for both sides to return to the nuclear agreement, saying: “The US government will first consult with international allies and then with Congress on this matter”.
Price added: “After these consultations, we will reach a point where we can directly enter into talks with the Iranians”.
On the other hand, the European Union sent a letter to the US government on Tuesday requesting “sanctions relief” for the continuation of the nuclear agreement.
Peter Stano, spokesperson for Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, said that Brussels is “working hard to save the JCPOA”. He added: “We are in active talks with the US government to see if sanctions can be lifted. Can the JCPOA be fully implemented again?”
Observers also assessed the Pentagon’s announcement regarding the departure of the aircraft carrier “USS Nimitz” from the Persian Gulf waters after 9 months as a sign of America’s efforts at “de-escalation”.
John Kirby, Pentagon spokesperson, refrained from commenting on this matter. He said at the same time: “The new US administration does not see a need to use the aircraft carrier ‘USS Nimitz’ for other security reasons”.
Source: DW
