Borrell: JCPOA Revival Talks Have Reached a Deadlock
Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, stated on Wednesday, September 14, that negotiations to revive the JCPOA nuclear deal and the mutual return of Iran and the United States to the agreement have reached a deadlock.
Josep Borrell said: “I fear that given the political conditions in the United States and many uncertain directions, we now remain in a kind of deadlock.”
The EU’s foreign policy chief has made extensive efforts over the past 16 months to pave the way for JCPOA revival during indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States.
Following the unsuccessful multilateral talks between Iran and JCPOA member states and indirect negotiations with the United States for JCPOA revival, Josep Borrell presented a final proposal in early August to break the deadlock in these negotiations.
Iran and the United States submitted their responses to this “final” proposal by the EU foreign policy chief. However, Iran in its latest response on September 2 demanded guarantees from the United States for closing the nuclear case file at the International Atomic Energy Agency. This Iranian demand has diminished hopes of European JCPOA members and the United States for reviving the deal.
France’s news agency says that given the upcoming U.S. congressional elections in November, the Biden administration faces a difficult path to reaching an agreement with Iran, as this matter could affect the outcome of elections in the country.
Josep Borrell said that over the past two months, the proposed texts of the two sides “were close to each other,” but “unfortunately, after summer, in the latest proposals (they not only) did not get closer, but are diverging.”
He added: The latest proposed text “was not helpful from the Iranians because we were almost (close to an agreement), then new proposals came and the political atmosphere is not always favorable. I regret to say it, but I do not expect any progress in the coming days.”
The European parties to the JCPOA—Britain, France, and Germany—said last week that they have “serious doubts” about Iran’s intention to return to the JCPOA.
Iran responded that the approach of these three European countries was “unconstructive.”
Josep Borrell continued, stating that there is no other action to break out of this deadlock and move forward.
The EU’s foreign policy chief said: “On my part, I have nothing more to propose.”
Anthony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, also said on Monday that Iran’s recent response to the EU’s proposed plan was a step backward and makes the prospect of reaching an agreement in the short term unlikely.
In this regard, the U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that Washington has submitted its response regarding Iran’s latest comments.
Ned Price clarified: “We have presented our views on Iran’s latest response and I do not intend to discuss it more publicly than what has been stated so far.”
Biden Administration’s Willingness to “Continue Negotiations”
In this connection, Laura Rozen, a prominent international affairs reporter in Washington, wrote on Wednesday citing a senior U.S. government official that the United States remains interested in continuing efforts to revive the JCPOA.
The anonymous American official said: “We remain interested in seeing whether we can reach an agreement on returning to mutual commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). In this regard, we are prepared to continue back and forth and moving forward (in these negotiations).”
The U.S. State Department spokesperson also requested on the previous day that Iran continue negotiations in good faith, setting aside “extra-JCPOA” demands.
Source: Radio Farda
