Less than two weeks before the restart of nuclear negotiations, the purposes are under question. Analysts believe that the US wants to use the talks as a chance to Take China d Russia in its side.
The indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington start late in the current month. The apparent purpose is to find a pathway to revival of JCPOA, 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers.
Political experts, however, say that Washington’s implicit objective may be to gain cooperation framework with Beijing and Moscow. En route, Washington can thwart the economic and security threats and contain potential Iranian violations.
American and European officials have suggested that restoring the accord has a time limit. The United States unilaterally withdrew from the dead in 2018 in a direct order by then President Donald Trump. The violation of the accord infuriated Tehran and instigated response by the country officials.
Iran agreed to curtail its nuclear ambitions in return for repeal of the sanctions. The United States, the European Union, and the United Nations agreed to release the sanctions under the accord. Former US administration’s policy to reinstate tough sanctions three years ago encouraged Iran to start step-by-step withdrawal from the agreement.
The European partners to the nuclear agreement made hazy attempts to lead the United States back to commitment. Their dual activism, however, did not satisfy Iran ad it did not secure Tehran’s benefits. China has undermined US influence by purchasing oil from Iran, therefore providing Tehran with a shelter against sanctions.
According to analysts, persuading China and Russia that Iran must be taken as the hurdle to the revival of JCPOA is the chief western strategy. Some western diplomats also affirmed that Washington is in urgent need of Beijing and Moscow to proceed with its policies.
Nuclear Negotiations; Moscow and Beijing as Instruments
Trump’s unilateral violation of JCPOA and putting sanctions on Tehran despite its full commitment put US in the loser side. What Biden administration is trying to do is to move out of the weak position by putting the blame on Tehran for its violations in response.
In a three-month-period this year, representatives from the US and Iran indirectly met in Vienna for 6 rounds. Five months after the latest round, new administration in Tehran agreed to get back to the tale under specific conditions. Raisi conservative government is concerned about the re-occurrence of the incidents that JCPOA has gone through since 2018.
Envoys of the US, and three European countries are upset by Iran’s reassuring demands, requirements Iran has called for lifting all post-2017 sanctions as the original JCPOA demands.
The nuclear negotiations in the coming weeks is an opportunity for America to assess Russia and China’s approaches. Washington will clearly seek additional assistance from the two countries in order to strain Iran. “Russia may prove a more helpful partner.
Considering China’s powerful economic capabilities and Russia military and cyber potential, diplomacy is the logical choice for the US. Imposing sanctions of China would have consequences for Washington that could go far beyond economic implications.
Experts also believe that the western powers’ approach is that the stronger their unity, the better their prospects of convincing Iran to return to the agreement would be. When the nuclear negotiations reach a critical moment at the table, this unity gets to an even more decisive role.
Iranian officials clarified what they expect in the negotiations. The western countries, frustrated with Iran’s incisive position, find Russia and china significant to impose their strategies. Moscow and Beijing, as such, have an instrumental role a prey to western policies.
