The nuclear talks continue in Vienna with Iran providing inspection access to some facilities as a signal of goodwill.
Global powers are still in private meetings during the nuclear talks in bid to revive JCPOA. While tensions between Tehran and the western countries have remained in force, there have been positive signals in recent days.
Tehran’s chief envoy warned about the persistence over keeping the “blame game” by the western negotiators. We proposed our ideas early, & worked constructively & flexibly to narrow gaps; diplomacy is a 2 way street. If there’s real will to remedy the culprit’s wrongdoing, way for quick good deal will be paved,” Baghri Kani asserted in a tweet yesterday.
Baghri Kani’s tweet seems to have been a response to earlier remarks by the European powers about Iran‘s seriousness. The warned about the possibility of losing the chance for reviving the deal before it’s entirely dead. “Time is running out. Without swift progress, in light of Iran’s fast-forwarding of its nuclear programme, the JCPOA will soon become an empty shell,” E3 said.
The fourth side, the United States, also repeated threat about alternative military options. This is not the first time that US Secretary of State talks about working with partners, most potentially referring to Israel, on other solutions.
Iran rapidly accelerated its nuclear advancement after a full year of expecting A European response to Washington’s unilateral withdrawal of JCPOA. Washington started with tough sanctions, that continues to today, and Iran expanded Uranium enrichment program to 60%. Tehran also developed and deployed sophisticated centrifuges and increased enriched uranium more than the JCPOA limitations.
IAEA, nevertheless, has certified that Tehran has no plan for 90% enrichment, necessary for a nuke. Tehran government has continuously asserted that it will make no attempt to develop nuclear weapons.
The Nuclear Talks; Iran’s Positive Signals
The nuclear talks between the world powers and Iran keeps on while the two sides accuse each other with lack of seriousness. In a phone call with his Russian counterpart’ Iranian foreign minister called all sides to provide the talks with alternatives and initiatives to avoid potential diplomatic impasse.
As a signal of goodwill, Iran provided access to IAEA inspectors to Karaj nuclear facility in the vicinity of Tehran. Tehran explained today about a “voluntary” move to provide access to the nuclear inspectors. Tehran also added that the move was an effort to avoid misunderstandings during the nuclear talks.
The IAEA has also confirmed Tehran’s initiative on reviving its access to a centrifuge components production facility in Karaj. The IAEA surveillance CCTV in Karaj facility were subject to destruction in an attack, potentially by Israel, eight months ago.
“The agreement with Iran on replacing surveillance cameras at the Karaj facility is an important development for the IAEA’s verification and monitoring activities . It will enable us to resume necessary continuity of knowledge at this facility,” a statement by IAEA Director read.
Tehran has halted voluntarily execution of the “Additional Protocol” since 10 months ago. The protocol granted the International Atomic Energy Agency with the ability to expand inspection tools as part of JCPOA. The CCTV surveillance haven’t ceased filming, but Tehran stated that it would only convey the films following Sanctions relief.
Tehran has made the first practical and plausible step towards wiping the obstacles out of the agreement path. The recent move leaves the choice up to the world powers, the United States in specific, over how serious they are in reviving the deal. While not the first violator of JCPOA, Tehran made the first serious step to revive it.
