"US Discusses Roadmap to Restore Nuclear Deal if Iran Agrees"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Iran is likely to want to discuss a roadmap for restoring the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), and the United States is also reported to be willing to respond to this.

On the 30th (local time), according to major foreign media, this convergence emerged amid a deadlock in efforts by the US and Iran to set the initial stages for restoring the Iran nuclear deal.

Three Western officials said that the US and Iran are mainly communicating indirectly through European parties involved in the Iran nuclear deal, such as the UK, France, and Germany, and that Iran's attitude was sensed during this process.

An anonymous US government official said, "I heard that Iran is primarily interested in a series of initial stages," adding, "We are currently exchanging opinions on such stages."

The official said, "What we are hearing publicly and through other means now is that Iran may be interested in a roadmap for a full return to compliance with the JCPOA, rather than just the initial stages." He added, "If Iran wants to discuss a roadmap, the US is also willing to have that discussion."

However, major foreign media analyzed that it is uncertain whether Iran's actual position is to discuss a broader roadmap rather than just the initial stages. In fact, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who controls Iran's nuclear policy, said on the 21st that the US must lift all sanctions before Iran resumes compliance with the nuclear deal.

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized, "If the sanctions are actually lifted, we will return to our obligations without any problem," adding, "We are patient and not in a hurry."

Iran signed the Iran nuclear deal in 2015 during the Barack Obama administration, which aimed to lift economic sanctions in exchange for halting its nuclear weapons development program, with the US and five other major countries.

Former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018, his first year in office, and unilaterally reinstated the sanctions lifted against Iran.

The Trump administration argued that the nuclear weapons program restrictions included in the deal were weak and also raised major complaints that conventional weapons and Iran's expansion of influence in the Middle East were not addressed.

The Biden administration announced its policy to restore the Iran nuclear deal after taking office but has suggested that there may be additional agenda items to negotiate for restoration depending on changes in the situation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.