Borrell: Reviving JCPOA Requires Extra Effort

The European Union top diplomat said the 2015 nuclear deal can still be revived with an “extra effort” although the possibility is shrinking. 
“As coordinator, I stand ready any time to facilitate a solution to the latest outstanding issues,” Josep Borrell said in a tweet, following a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. 
The deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, has been unravelling since the United States pulled out in 2018 and reimposed tough sanctions that had been lifted under the accord, prompting Iran to scale down its commitments in response.
Negotiations to restore the JCPOA in the Austrian capital Vienna have been paused since March over a few remaining differences.
The situation has become more complicated as the United States, France, Britain and Germany are pushing for the United Nations nuclear watchdog’s board of governors to rebuke Iran for failing to adequately answer longstanding questions on uranium traces allegedly found at undeclared sites, according to a draft resolution prepared for an upcoming meeting seen by Reuters.
Any such action could damage prospects for rescuing the already stalled talks on resuming compliance with JCPOA. 
Amir-Abdollahian described the move as “hasty and unconstructive,” adding that it is against diplomatic procedures and would make the Vienna negotiations more difficult and complicated. 
“Any political action by the United States and the three European countries in the International Atomic Energy Agency will undoubtedly be met with a proportionate, effective and immediate response from Iran,” he warned in his phone talk with Borrell.
He also said the IAEA head’s visit to Israel ahead of the board meeting was in conflict with the agency’s impartiality and technical and professional status. 
Borrell stressed the need for continued consultations to improve the current negative atmosphere at the agency and focus on negotiations for the return of all parties to the 2015 deal.

Pressing Task 

China also said it opposes relevant countries’ moves at the IAEA Board of Governors to pressure Iran through adopting a resolution. 
“Facts have proven time and again that pressuring does not help solve problems. It only increases tension and escalates the situation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at a regular press conference on Thursday. 
He said the Vienna talks are at a crucial juncture toward conclusion and being confrontational at the IAEA Board of Governors will only undermine the agency’s cooperation with Iran and disrupt the negotiation process.
The pressing task at the moment, according to the Chinese diplomat, is to facilitate a successful conclusion of the negotiations to bring the JCPOA back to the right track. 
“Once the implementation resumes, it will be much easier to find the solutions needed for resolving the issues related to the IAEA’s safeguards in Iran.”
Western powers had held off submitting a draft resolution to previous quarterly meetings of IAEA’s 35-nation board on this issue to avoid derailing talks.
The issue has now come to a head since the IAEA told member states this week that Iran had not given it credible answers on the particles it claims were found at three sites, although both sides had agreed in March to resolve such open issues by now.
US State Department Ned Price said on Thursday that Washington is currently consulting closely on the IAEA director general’s reports in advance of the board meeting next week.
“We can confirm that we plan to join the UK, France, and Germany in seeking a resolution focused on the need for Iran to fully cooperate with the IAEA,” he said.
The draft must still formally be submitted to next week’s meeting and then be either adopted unopposed or put to a vote.
The board’s meeting starts on Monday and the draft’s wording is likely to keep being negotiated among board members and adjusted until it is submitted.