JCPOA Revival Will Remain US Policy Goal

The pursuit of a mutual return to compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal will continue to be the United States’ policy goal, as long as it is in its national interest to do so, a senior US diplomat said. 
“We will continue to pursue that deal because pursuing it is ultimately in our national interest,” US State Department Ned Price said at a press briefing on Tuesday. 
The time frame would be as long as Washington assesses that the deal’s nonproliferation benefits outweigh the gains that Iran has been able to make in recent years in its nuclear program, he explained.
The nuclear pact, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, promised sanctions relief to Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear program, but lost shape when the US pulled out in 2018 and reimposed tough sanctions, which Tehran responded to by exceeding the limits of the deal. 
Negotiations have been underway since April 2021 in Vienna, Austria, to work out how both sides can resume compliance.
Despite major progress over 11 months of on-and-off discussions, the talks were paused in early March over a few remaining differences. 
The negotiations seem to have reached an impasse as both sides put the onus on the other to make the required political decisions. 
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said earlier that the reason for the pause in the talks is that the US has not responded to Iran and Europe’s initiatives. 
Price, however, claimed the story is otherwise, adding that the US is prepared to immediately conclude and implement a deal, but it is ultimately up to Iran to decide to drop demands that go beyond the JCPOA and engage in good faith. 
“That is a choice that only Tehran will be able to make,” he said. 
Western countries widely suggest that the main sticking point is Iran’s demand for the removal of its Islamic Revolution Guards Corps form the list terrorist organizations, which they argue falls outside the purview of the nuclear deal. 
Iran maintains that the designation was part of the US maximum pressure campaign, all of whose components must be revoked before Iran returns to compliance. 
Iranian officials also blame the US for inflating the significance of the IRGC terrorism listing while the main area of conflict involves assurances for Iran’s full economic benefit from the revived deal.

Not Fair and Balanced 

Asked about the US position on the recent leaked report of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Price said Washington shares IAEA concerns and supports its efforts.
The UN watchdog on Monday claimed Iran had not credibly answered long-standing questions about the origin of uranium particles allegedly found at three undeclared sites, despite a fresh push for a breakthrough.
Tehran said the report does not reflect the reality of talks between Iran and the agency and is not fair and balanced.
“It seems that pressure from the Zionists and other actors has diverted the path of technical reports to the political field, and we expect this trend to be corrected,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Tuesday. 
The lack of progress on the issue could set up a new diplomatic clash with the West when the IAEA 35-nation Board of Governors meets next week. If Western powers seek a resolution criticizing Tehran, it could deal a further blow to stalled efforts to revive the JCPOA.
Price refused to say whether the US was going to support a censure of Iran at the IAEA board meeting, saying Washington is not in a position to comment more fully since this report is not public.
“But we will continue to work closely with allies and partners and the Board of Governors of the IAEA to ensure that the board takes appropriate action in response to the director general’s reporting,” he said. 
He also pointed out that the unresolved safeguards issues relate to legal obligations under agreements required by the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which is separate from Iran’s JCPOA nuclear-related commitments.
“That is why we are proceeding with determining whether we can achieve a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA.”