US State Department "Welcomes Meeting of Iran Nuclear Deal Parties"

Source: Evan Vucci / AP

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] The U.S. Department of State has expressed its welcome regarding the decision by the parties to the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) to discuss restoring the agreement.

Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, stated at a regular briefing held on the 1st (local time) that he "welcomes the positive steps" related to the virtual meeting of the JCPOA parties scheduled for the 2nd.

Spokesperson Price emphasized, "We are consistently prepared to return to compliance with the commitments of the JCPOA with Iran."

He added, "We are discussing with partner countries the best ways to achieve (the restoration of the nuclear deal), including setting initial mutual steps," and noted, "We have been reviewing these options through indirect talks with European partners."

Earlier, the European Union (EU) announced in a statement that the JCPOA parties, including China, Russia, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, would hold a meeting to discuss the possibility of the U.S. returning to the Iran nuclear deal.

Iran signed the JCPOA in 2015 with six major countries, including the U.S., during the Barack Obama administration, under the condition that economic sanctions would be lifted in exchange for halting nuclear weapons development.

However, in 2018, former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally declared the termination of the nuclear deal and reinstated the sanctions against Iran that had been lifted.

The Joe Biden administration has announced its policy to restore the JCPOA since taking office but has suggested that there may be additional issues to negotiate for restoration depending on changing circumstances.

Regarding this, the British newspaper The Guardian reported that a potential breakthrough appears in the stalled efforts by the U.S. and Iran to restore the JCPOA.

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