The United States and Iran held indirect talks in Qatar on Wednesday in an effort to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. The talks were mediated by the European Union, and they were the first direct talks between the two countries since March.
The 2015 nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), placed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. However, the United States withdrew from the deal in 2018 under President Donald Trump, and Iran subsequently began to violate the terms of the deal.
The Biden administration has said that it is committed to reviving the JCPOA, but there are a number of obstacles to doing so. One key sticking point is Iran’s demand that the United States remove the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from its list of terrorist organizations. The United States has said that it is willing to do this, but only if Iran takes steps to address its concerns about the IRGC’s activities.
Another obstacle to reviving the JCPOA is the issue of verification. Iran has said that it will not allow international inspectors to access all of its nuclear facilities, while the United States has said that it needs to be able to verify that Iran is complying with the terms of the deal.
The indirect talks in Qatar are a positive step, but it remains to be seen whether they will lead to a breakthrough. Both sides have said that they are committed to finding a diplomatic solution, but there are still a number of difficult issues that need to be resolved.
Here are some additional thoughts on the indirect talks and the prospects for reviving the JCPOA:
- The fact that the two sides are even talking is a sign of progress. However, it is important to note that these are indirect talks, and the two sides are not sitting down at the same table. This makes it more difficult to build trust and resolve differences.
- The key sticking point in the talks is the issue of the IRGC. The United States has said that it is willing to remove the IRGC from its list of terrorist organizations, but only if Iran takes steps to address its concerns about the IRGC’s activities. Iran has refused to do this, saying that the IRGC is a legitimate part of its armed forces.
- Another obstacle to reviving the JCPOA is the issue of verification. Iran has said that it will not allow international inspectors to access all of its nuclear facilities. The United States has said that it needs to be able to verify that Iran is complying with the terms of the deal.
- Despite the challenges, there are some reasons to be optimistic about the prospects for reviving the JCPOA. Both sides have said that they are committed to finding a diplomatic solution. The European Union is also pushing hard for a revival of the deal.
- If the JCPOA can be revived, it would be a major positive development for the region and the world. It would reduce the risk of a nuclear-armed Iran and help to improve relations between Iran and the United States.
The indirect talks between the United States and Iran in Qatar are a positive step, but it remains to be seen whether they will lead to a breakthrough. Both sides have said that they are committed to finding a diplomatic solution, but there are still a number of difficult issues that need to be resolved. If the JCPOA can be revived, it would be a major positive development for the region and the world.
