U.S. and Iran Relations: This week on Thursday, the United States State Department welcomed the Joint Commission of the Comprehensive Joint Action Plan (JCPOA simulated)’s EU-led meeting between Iran and world powers scheduled for Friday.
“We welcome this as a positive step,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters during a press briefing. We have been clear for weeks now that we are ready to pursue a return to compliance with our JCPOA commitments, consistent with Iran also doing the same.”
He noted Washington had discussions with collaborators on the best way to accomplish this goal, including several tentative mutual actions. The European Union announced earlier that delegates from China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and Iran would meet virtually on April 2 to negotiate the possibility of the United States rejoining the JCPOA, also recognized as the Iran nuclear pact. The United States and Iran are at odds about reviving the nuclear agreement. According to the Joe Biden administration, if Iran returns to full compliance with the JCPOA, the U.S. will do the same. However, Iran argued it would only comply if Biden lifted U.S. sanctions.
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According to state T.V., Iranian President Hassan Rouhani criticized Washington for the delay in re-embracing its obligations under the 2015 nuclear agreement on Thursday.
“This would mean a win-win bargain for the region and the entire world, which would benefit them. The Americans could not understand that, and they have failed to seize this golden opportunity,” Rouhani said.
Earlier this week, U.S. media announced that the Biden administration intended to present a new initiative to Tehran as soon as this week to break the deadlock. Politico stated on Monday, quoting people familiar with the case, that the plan asks Iran to suspend some of its nuclear operations in return for freedom from U.S. economic sanctions. Under former President Donald Trump, Washington withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 and tightened sanctions against Iran. In reaction to the U.S. moves, Iran suspended the enforcement of some of the deal’s provisions.
