Reuters: Iran shows encouraging signs for nuclear talks
Reuters news agency, citing two European sources, reported seeing positive signs from Iran to participate in informal talks with world powers, including the United States, regarding the country's nuclear program.
After the news of the withdrawal of the US's European allies from presenting a draft resolution of reprimand against Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency, Reuters reported, citing two European sources, that in recent days Iran has sent "encouraging signs" regarding informal nuclear talks with the US and Europe.
Iran has so far refused to participate in the European Union-mediated meeting between world powers and the United States to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.
“Everything is going in the right direction and we have received positive signs this week and especially in the last few days,” a French source said.
The source added that the goal was to have everyone sit around a table for talks before Nowruz (March 20).
He noted that starting these talks will be difficult with the start of the election campaign in Iran, and for this reason they will make every effort to hold this meeting in the coming days or weeks.
Another European source also stated that "positive signs" have been seen from Iran.
Diplomats have said that what is hindering the talks is Iran's pre-condition for participating in the talks to ensure that there is a way to lift sanctions after the meeting, a precondition that the United States is unwilling to accept.
A senior US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that it was not about providing assurances on an issue, but rather about both sides taking positive steps.
“When we don’t know what they’re doing, we can’t tell them in advance what we’re going to do,” he said.
Reuters writes that an Iranian official declined to comment on the matter.
The French source said that Iran's domestic politics create conditions where the government does not want to sit down at the same table with the Americans after years without being sure that the meeting will lead to a positive process for lifting sanctions. Iran's nuclear policy is determined by Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, not the country's president.
Britain, France, and Germany have announced that they have given up pursuing a resolution against Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency so as not to damage the prospects for diplomacy.
Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said on Thursday, March 4, in response to this news that this event could pave the way for the full implementation of commitments by all parties to the JCPOA.
He considered the cancellation of the draft resolution the result of intensive diplomatic efforts in Tehran, Vienna, and “the capitals of all members of the Board of Governors, especially the three European countries, as well as the support of China and Russia,” and said that “today’s development can preserve the path of diplomacy that Iran and the Agency have opened.”
Source: DW
