The United States and the Europe must agree to completely conclude Iran’s safeguards case at the International Atomic Energy Agency in order for the 2015 nuclear deal to be revived, a lawmaker said.
“No disruption should occur regarding this issue in the future,” Ebrahim Azizi, deputy head of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission told ICANA.
The IAEA has questioned Iran about uranium traces allegedly found in undeclared old sites and rejected Iran’s answers, provided as per an agreement in March, as not credible.
This led to the passing of a resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors in June against Iran.
Tehran has demanded an end to the agency’s investigation as a requirement for its return to full compliance with the 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
The JCPOA placed curbs on Iran’s nuclear activity in return for sanctions relief, but the US pulled out in 2018 and reimposed tough sanctions that prompted Tehran to scale down its commitments.
Negotiations have been underway in the Austrian capital Vienna for more than a year to work out how both sides can resume compliance.
The talks were stalled for months until the European Union, as coordinator of the deal, eventually put forward a new initiative last week to break the impasse.
After four days of discussion in Vienna, the EU presented what it called a final draft text which is currently being reviewed in capitals.
EU-Proposed Compromise
The proposal would have Iran agree to address the IAEA’s concerns before the pact takes effect, saying Iran is expected to answer the agency’s questions “with a view to clarifying them.”
If Tehran cooperates, the US and other parties in the talks would urge the IAEA Board of Governors to close the investigation, noting that the request contained in the June resolution for the director general to report on those issues is no longer necessary, the text says.
Washington says the only way for that to happen is for Iran to provide the agency with the information they need.
“That’s our position regardless of whether it’s expressed in the text of an understanding or elsewhere,” a US officials said.
US Special envoy for Iran Robert Malley rejected reports about the US potential concessions on the issue.
“We’re not going to put any pressure on the International Atomic Energy Agency to close these outstanding issues,” he said in an interview with the PBS.
He added that the issues will be closed when Iran provides the technically credible answers that the agency has requested.
“As soon as they do that, and as soon as the agency is satisfied, we will be satisfied, but not before … There is no shortcut.”
Iran argues that the issue is based on fabricated intelligence provided by the US and Israel and is meant to be used as leverage in nuclear talks and other potential future cases and must be concluded before any deal on JCPOA revival.
Required Assurances
Besides the safeguards, Iran wants complete sanctions removal and guarantees that no future US administration would renege on the deal again in the future.
“They must give assurances that they would not act unfaithfully again,” Azizi said, adding that the US and Europe seem unable to make a decision on this matter.
He stressed that negotiation is only acceptable for Iran if it can ensure Iran’s national interests, economic benefits and strategic nuclear goals.
An Iranian diplomat had earlier said Tehran is reviewing the EU draft to make sure its demands are met.
“The EU’s suggestions are only acceptable if they provide assurances to Iran on various issues, including political claims about safeguards, [lifting of] sanctions and guarantees,” the informed source told IRNA.
Malley said Washington is considering the EU text very carefully “to make sure that it lives up to the president’s very clear guidance that he would only sign up to deal that is consistent with US national security interests.”
A senior US administration official also said given that the EU has described this text as their final effort at a compromise, “nobody should be surprised that it requires difficult decisions for all participants.”
