Biden: Now is not the time to abandon nuclear talks with Iran
US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday, January 19, that now is not the time to abandon negotiations with Iran to revive the nuclear deal.
"Now is not the time to abandon these negotiations. Progress is being made," he said at a press conference marking the first anniversary of his presidency.
Referring to the negotiating parties with Iran, the US President added: "The P5+1 group is in agreement. But we have to wait and see."
Negotiations between Iran and world powers, consisting of Britain, Russia, China, France, Germany and the United States, to revive the JCPOA began with the arrival of the Joe Biden administration. Meanwhile, Iran and the United States are negotiating indirectly, through the intermediary of the other four JCPOA member states.
But what the West is now warning about is the lack of time. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last week that there are only a few weeks left to save the JCPOA and that Washington is ready to resort to “other options” if the talks fail.
On Wednesday, hours before Mr. Biden's remarks, Mr. Blinken once again raised the issue of time constraints, saying: "The interests of the United States and its allies require that we return to the nuclear agreement, but I think there are only a few weeks left to revive the JCPOA."
The most senior American diplomat also stated that Iran had demanded guarantees in the Vienna talks that the United States would not withdraw from the JCPOA, but the administration in the American political system cannot provide such a strong guarantee.
He stated: "US President Joe Biden has stated with certainty that he will be committed to the JCPOA as long as he is in office, but such a commitment cannot be made on behalf of future US administrations."
The Iran nuclear deal with world powers was reached during the presidency of Barack Obama in the United States, but Washington unilaterally canceled the agreement when Donald Trump's administration came to power. In response, Iran gradually reneged on its nuclear commitments.
Source: Radio Farda
