Likelihood of Complete Halt to JCPOA Revival Negotiations Strengthens

One day after Israeli Prime Minister released “secret documents” related to Iran’s nuclear program and coinciding with the publication of a draft “resolution by America and three European countries” at the Board of Governors, media outlets close to Iran’s government have spoken of the “need for reconsideration” in cooperation with the “Agency.”

The newspaper “Kayhan” in its Tehran edition of Wednesday, May 31st, has called for vigilance by the Islamic Republic’s diplomatic apparatus regarding what this newspaper has termed “Western entrapment,” and also stressed the need to focus on “highlighting the process of Iran’s sincere cooperation with the Agency.”

This media outlet, which operates under the supervision of the direct representative of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Republic, referring to a recent report by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has called for the “discrediting” of reports that, according to this newspaper’s claim, are “fabricated,” and stated that there should be “reconsideration” in cooperation with the Agency, whose reports are supposed to form the “basis for decisions” of the Board of Governors.

Rafael Grossi in a report published on June 1st by the International Atomic Energy Agency announced that Iran’s “enriched uranium reserves” have reached more than “18 times the allowed limit” stipulated in the JCPOA nuclear agreement.

Simultaneously, Reuters reported on a “draft resolution by America and three European countries” at the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency condemning certain nuclear activities of the Islamic Republic, in which “deep concern” has been expressed regarding the “unresolved” issue of “uranium particles found” at three undeclared sites.

According to this report, the draft resolution by America and three European countries states that these safeguards issues “remain unresolved due to Iran’s systematic insufficient cooperation,” and calls on the Islamic Republic to “immediately” accept the Agency’s proposal for “greater engagement” in order to resolve all remaining safeguards issues.

In this connection, Ali Bahadri Jahromi, spokesperson for the thirteenth government of the Islamic Republic, said today, Wednesday, May 31st, regarding “JCPOA negotiations” that negotiations are “in their process,” have “not been halted,” and that Iran has demonstrated and continues to show “seriousness and good faith.”

The spokesman for the Islamic Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated yesterday in response to a question as to whether “Vienna talks have reached a deadlock,” saying: “In Vienna talks and negotiations, our actions are clear.”

Said Khatibzadeh, stating that what matters to the Islamic Republic are messages that are “going back and forth” through “customary channels” between Tehran and Washington, added: “But unfortunately, America has not provided the necessary responses.”

The Islamic Republic’s Foreign Ministry spokesman’s reference to “customary channels” between Iran and America was in reference to statements made on June 1st by Russia’s representative to international organizations in Vienna and senior negotiator in the Vienna talks, who also represents the Islamic Republic in some sessions of these negotiations.

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s representative in the JCPOA revival negotiations, wrote on his Twitter account that Vienna talks on reviving the JCPOA nuclear agreement “have faced interruption since March 10th” and cited “media reports” that during a visit by Enrique Mora, the European Union’s coordinator in the negotiations, to Tehran, Iran “showed some flexibility” and is now “waiting for a response from America.”

Meanwhile, Ned Price, spokesman for the United States State Department, also said on June 1st regarding Iran’s Foreign Ministry’s claim that “America has not yet responded to Iran’s new proposal”: “Iran’s demands beyond the JCPOA have derailed negotiations, and if there is a change of decision in Tehran, Washington and European allies are prepared to immediately end negotiations.”

These developments are occurring as the publication of “secret documents” from the Islamic Republic’s Ministry of Intelligence and Ministry of Defense related to some hidden atomic programs of the Islamic Republic by Naftali Bennett, Israeli Prime Minister, on his Twitter account has also generated widespread reactions.

Source: Voice of America