Senator Menendez: What Are We Trying to Save with JCPOA Revival?
The spokesperson of Iran’s parliamentary National Security Commission says that on condition of Western “good faith,” the conditions for a win-win agreement are ready. However, Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has asked Biden to block the revival of the JCPOA.
Mahmoud Abbaszadeh Meshkini, spokesperson of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran’s eleventh parliament, has announced an extraordinary session of this commission with the political deputy of the Foreign Ministry. Abbaszadeh said that Ali Bagheri assessed the Vienna talks positively and recalled that no direct talks with the United States have taken place so far.
According to Abbaszadeh, ISNA reported: “Based on the discussions raised, under current conditions, what Iran would receive in exchange for direct negotiations with the United States is not clear. Despite the positive and forward momentum of the negotiation process, important issues remain that need to be negotiated and agreed upon.”
He added that lifting all sanctions is Iran’s right, but so far the two sides have only accepted the lifting of some of them.
Meanwhile, Bob Menendez, a Democratic senator and chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressing serious opposition to the JCPOA revival, has asked the Biden administration to pursue a serious and new policy to counter the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and missile programs and prevent Tehran’s support for proxy groups in the region.
Menendez emphasized Tuesday evening, February 12, in the US Senate that he was also opposed to the nuclear agreement during the Obama era. He said: “What are we trying to save now? To change the behavior of Iran’s leaders, we must speak clearly about the credible military threat and not be satisfied with saying all options are on the table.”
Currently, JCPOA revival talks in Vienna have been temporarily halted, and delegations have returned to their capitals for consultation.
The New York Times reported on Sunday, February 1, quoting Biden administration officials that the parties apparently are on the verge of reviving the JCPOA, but it is Iran that must decide whether it is “ready to dismantle much of its facilities or limit its nuclear program or not.”
It is said that talks will resume late this week.
US State Department officials have repeatedly warned that little time remains to reach an agreement.
Source: DW
