 The Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) meet in Vienna, Austria from April 6-9, 2021. (photo: VNA) |
Participants called the meeting in Vienna “constructive and results-oriented”. Observers caught a glimmer of hope of reviving the original deal.
Goodwill from involved parties
The meeting in Vienna provided a moment of relief from tensions between the US and Iran over the past three years that sometimes threatened to ignite a war.
Russia, China, France, Germany, and the UK have actively maintained the nuclear deal, offering additional economic inducements to persuade Iran not to break its commitments. Their efforts have been endorsed by US President Joe Biden, who wants to resume the deal with Iran.
Representatives from Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, and the European Union met in Vienna, while a US envoy attended the meeting virtually. The US has already removed some Trump-era sanctions imposed on Iranian officials.
Both the US and Iran have been cautious in their comments. Tehran said it will not participate in direct or indirect talks with Washington until Washington removes all sanctions. On April 10th, Iran activated new advanced centrifuges to enrich uranium at a faster rate.
The US said it will maintain its sanctions until Iran stops violating the agreement, despite its previous statement that resuming the nuclear deal is its top priority in the Middle East.
 Spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry Saeed Khatibzadeh (photo: IRNA/VNA) |
Fragile opportunity
Iran and the P5+1 group signed the JCPOA in 2015. Former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions on Tehran. In retaliation, Iran rolled back key commitments under the deal.
Since taking office, President Biden has reversed the US’s position, saying the US will return to the JCPOA if Iran starts complying with the deal again. He has appointed some of the original US negotiators to important security posts.
Both the US and Iran appear willing to revive the 2015 deal, but both are waiting for the other to take the first step.