Iran Rejects Nuclear Deal Talks With U.S. Proposed by Europe

Iran on Sunday rejected an invitation from world powers that signed the 2015 nuclear deal to discuss the regime’s potential return to the negotiating table, a major setback in the Biden administration’s efforts to revive the agreement.

“In view of recent actions and statements by the United States and three European powers, Iran does not consider that the time has come to hold an informal meeting with these countries, which was proposed by the chief of foreign policy of the EU, ”Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said. , according to Tehran state media.

The White House said on Sunday that the Biden administration was disappointed with Iran’s decision to skip the informal meeting with the United States and other signatories to the 2015 pact – France, Germany, the United Kingdom , Russia and China.

“While we are disappointed with Iran’s response, we remain ready to resume meaningful diplomacy to achieve a mutual return to honoring JCPOA commitments,” a senior administration official told NBC News.

“We will consult with our P5 + 1 partners on the best way forward,” the official said, referring to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany.

The Biden administration has previously said it wants to revive the nuclear deal, but will not suspend sanctions until Tehran comes back into compliance. Tehran has refused to negotiate as long as US sanctions remain in place.

The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), negotiated by the Obama administration, lifted sanctions against Iran, which had crippled its economy and roughly halved its oil exports. In exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief, Iran has agreed to dismantle part of its nuclear program and open its facilities to further international inspections.

The United States and its European allies believe Iran has ambitions to develop a nuclear bomb. Tehran has denied this allegation.

In 2018, then-President Donald Trump kept an election promise and pulled the United States out of the JCPOA, calling it “the worst deal ever.” Following Washington’s exit from the historic nuclear deal, other signatories to the pact attempted to keep the deal alive.

In a letter published by Sunda ‘, Republican senators warned President Joe Biden not to join the 2015 nuclear deal because it is “riddled with problems”, and instead pushed for a more comprehensive deal.

“The scope of any deal with Iran must span the full spectrum of Iranian behavior, including regional terrorism, ballistic missiles and the detention of US nationals. It’s no surprise that Iran’s proxies support Assad’s atrocities in Syria, attack our troops and diplomats in Iraq, have brought Lebanon to the brink of collapse, threaten our Israeli and Gulf partners, and are contributing to the world’s greatest humanitarian disaster in Yemen, ”wrote the Sense. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, Jim Risch of Idaho, Marco Rubio of Florida, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Rob Portman of Ohio in a joint letter to Biden.

“Despite criticism of the ‘maximum pressure’ campaign, it is undeniable that it has inflicted a cost on Iran for its malicious activities and is now offering your administration leverage to get a better deal with it. Iran. We know Iran cannot trust Iran. honor its commitments, ”wrote the senators.