US State Department "Ready to Lift Sanctions on Iran"... Progress in Iran Nuclear Deal Talks?

Statements Immediately After Nuclear Agreement Talks... Avoided Mentioning Specific Measures
Persuading Allies in the Middle East Remains a Variable... Opposition from Israel and Others Continues

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. State Department announced that it is preparing to lift sanctions not included in the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) immediately after the restoration talks, drawing attention to whether this will unlock the negotiation deadlock. This comes as Iran continues to claim that the lifting of U.S. sanctions is a precondition for negotiations, and the U.S. has shown a conciliatory gesture. However, opposition from U.S. allies in the Middle East, such as Israel, against lifting sanctions on Iran is expected to act as a variable.

On the 7th (local time), Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, stated at a press briefing, "We are ready to lift sanctions that do not align with the nuclear deal to restore the JCPOA." However, when asked specifically which sanctions would be lifted, he avoided mentioning details, saying, "There is nothing I can answer at this time." Previously, during the Donald Trump administration, the U.S. designated Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism and imposed additional sanctions not included in the nuclear deal, such as ballistic missile launch bans and human rights sanctions.

This statement came immediately after the JCPOA restoration talks held in Vienna, Austria, the previous day, raising expectations for progress in negotiations. According to Voice of America (VOA), although there was no direct face-to-face meeting between U.S. and Iranian representatives at the meeting of the six JCPOA parties?including France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia?the European country representatives mediated between the two delegations, facilitating indirect negotiations.

Following the JCPOA restoration talks, Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister and representative, stated at a press conference that Iran rejected the U.S. proposal to release $1 billion (approximately 1.12 trillion KRW) in frozen assets in exchange for stopping uranium enrichment at 20% concentration, calling it a "ridiculous proposal." However, he also said, "The dialogue with the JCPOA participants was constructive," suggesting progress in negotiations with the U.S.

However, since U.S. allies in the Middle East, such as Israel, strongly oppose the JCPOA, it is expected that more time will be needed to reach an agreement. Israel has consistently opposed the Iran nuclear deal negotiations, and Arab countries including Saudi Arabia are also reportedly against it. Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV reported that the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Saviz was attacked with explosives near the coast of Djibouti in the Red Sea the previous day, with Israel suspected to be behind the attack.

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