Conditions for US Return to JCPOA Outlined

The “effective” and “verifiable” removal of sanctions at once is the condition for the United States’ return to the 2015 nuclear deal from which it unilaterally withdrew three years ago, a senior Iranian diplomat said. 
“If the US enters the Vienna talks with this approach, an agreement would definitely be attainable in the shortest time,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said, ISNA reported.
Negotiations in the Austrian capital aim to revive the deal that has been unravelling sine the US pulled out in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran that prompted Iranian leaders to row back on their commitments in reaction. 
The process was paused in June after six rounds due to a change of government in Iran, but is set to restart on Nov. 29 with a new Iranian delegation. 
Khatibzadeh said the lifting of sanctions in that manner is Iran’s whole purpose of engaging in the Vienna negotiations. 
“Of course we want assurances that the US would not mock international law again,” he added. 
He noted that Washington, including its current administration, has proved that they cannot adhere to their guarantees and a president’s signature is not as reliable as they claim. 
“So, it is natural that Iran and its negotiating team insist on receiving required assurances.” 
The US exit also proved Europe’s level of inaction, according to Khatibzadeh, and its inability to meet the obligations it had undertaken as part of the landmark nuclear agreement, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
“One of the topics of discussion in the Vienna talks is that JCPOA members must return to their commitments under the deal,” he said, noting that Iran has suffered massive loss as a result of this “violation and inaction” which must be taken into consideration. 
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian had said that Iran will engage in negotiations in good faith with the aim of revoking sanctions and restoring the JCPOA, although it is doubtful about the US intentions. 

Political Conduct 

Western powers have warned that time is running low to resurrect the JCPOA, as the International Atomic Energy Agency said this week that Iran had again increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
The US envoy for Iran said on Friday that Tehran’s advances are spreading alarm across the region.
“That’s what’s making the clock tick faster and making all of us say that the time is short for a return to the JCPOA,” Robert Malley told the Manama Dialogue conference in Bahrain, the Times of Israel reported.
He accused Iran of dragging its feet on the nuclear talks to accelerate the progress in its nuclear program.
The diplomat asserted that Tehran was approaching “the point of no return” for reviving the JCPOA, adding that Iran has risked making it “impossible” to gain any benefit from resuming the agreement. 
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian also said on Friday that if Iran comes to the new round of talks with a “sham” negotiating stance, “then we will have to consider the JCPOA empty,” according to Reuters.  
The French foreign ministry had earlier urged the UN nuclear agency’s board on Thursday to send Iran a tough message over its nuclear advancements and lack of cooperation. 
The IAEA Board of Governors are set to convene on Nov. 24, where western powers could push for a resolution rebuking Tehran, although diplomats say such tough action is unlikely for fear of jeopardizing the Nov. 29 talks. 
Tehran said on Friday the IAEA must not be politicized.
“As a responsible member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has always emphasized that the IAEA’s reputation as a technical and specialized body of the United Nations must be free of any political conduct,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that Beijing hopes the IAEA and Iran can properly resolve differences on monitoring and verification through dialogue and consultation on the basis of mutual respect. 
“We also call on all relevant parties to play a constructive role in this regard,” he said at a regular press briefing on Friday. 
He called on all JCPAO parties to step up diplomatic efforts and take concrete actions to push for a smooth restart of negotiations on resuming compliance with the JCPOA and achieve positive results. 
“We also hope that relevant parties bear in mind the overall interest, be rational and exercise restraint, and avoid disrupting diplomatic efforts to advance the negotiations,” he said.