PARIS, Feb 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Top diplomats from European powers and the United States will hold talks to see how to revive the 2015 deal
on Iran’s nuclear drive, days ahead of a deadline set by Tehran that could
hinder the efforts by limiting inspections.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will host his German and British counterparts in Paris, with America’s new top diplomat Antony Blinken joining via videoconference, the French foreign ministry said.
Highlighting the tough path ahead, German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced “concern” that Iran was failing to meet its obligations in telephone talks with President Hassan Rouhani, her spokesman said in a statement.
Analysts say only a small window of opportunity remains to save the
landmark deal, which received a near-fatal blow when former US president
Donald Trump walked out of the accord in 2018.
The administration of Joe Biden has said it is prepared to rejoin the deal
and start lifting sanctions if Iran returns to full compliance, a
precondition disputed by Tehran.
Ahead of the talks Biden spoke overnight to Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu,
with the two leaders discussing the “Iranian threat and regional challenges”, according to a White House readout.
Adding to the tension, Iran plans to restrict some UN nuclear agency
inspections if the US does not lift its sanctions — imposed since 2018 — by
February 21, under the terms of a bill adopted by its parliament in December.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi is to travel
to Tehran on Saturday for talks with the Iranian authorities to find a
solution for continuing inspections in the country, the agency said.
It warned that the step threatened by Tehran would have “a serious impact
on the IAEA’s verification and monitoring activities in the country.”
In Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Iran should provide “full and timely cooperation” with the IAEA.
“Iran should reverse the steps and refrain from taking others that would
impact the IAEA assurances on which not only the United States, not only our allies and partners in the region, but the entire world relies,” he said,
adding that Blinken saw an “important role” for the EU.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed in Vienna in 2015,
was based on Iran providing safeguards that it would not make an atomic bomb, in exchange for a gradual easing of international sanctions.
But Iran has stepped up its nuclear work in violation of the accord after
US sanctions were reimposed as part of Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy to weaken the Iranian regime.
The UN nuclear watchdog said last week that Iran had started producing
uranium metal in a new violation of the accord, prompting the European powers to warn that Tehran was “undermining the opportunity for renewed diplomacy.”
In her talks with Rouhani, Merkel said that “now was the time for positive
signals that create trust and increase the chances of a diplomatic solution”.
However the Iranian presidency said Rouhani in the call “criticised
Europe’s performance” on its JCPOA commitments after the US withdrawal.
While Iran’s policy is ultimately determined by supreme leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei, Iranian presidential elections in June add another time
pressure factor.
Rouhani — a key advocate of nuclear diplomacy with global powers — is set
to step down after serving the maximum two consecutive terms, and a more hardline figure is possibly in line to replace him.
Khamenei emphasised Wednesday that Iran wanted to see action from the US administration that would help its economy.
“This time, only action, action. If we see action from the opposite side,
we will act too,” he said. — NNN-AGENCIES
