Blinken, US Secretary of State, "Iran Nuclear Deal Cannot Continue Indefinitely"

Khamenei "Never Trust Western Countries"
Moderate Regime's Term Ending Soon... Negotiations Expected to Be Difficult

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken issued a strong warning to Iran, stating that negotiations to restore the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) cannot continue indefinitely. This is seen as a response to remarks made the previous day by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who expressed distrust toward Western countries.

With the term of Hassan Rouhani, who represented the moderate faction in Iran, ending early next month and a hardline regime expected to take office, pessimistic views are emerging that the nuclear deal restoration may be practically impossible.

On the 29th (local time), during a press conference held while visiting Kuwait, Secretary Blinken emphasized, "We are committed to negotiations on the Iran nuclear deal, but we cannot continue negotiations indefinitely," adding, "The United States has first shown its willingness and good faith to comply with the obligations of the nuclear deal, and now the ball is in Iran's court."

The six parties involved in the Iran nuclear deal, including the U.S. and Iran, have held talks in Vienna, Austria, since April to restore the deal, but negotiations have been temporarily suspended since the 5th of this month. Following the recent Iranian presidential election, hardliner Ebrahim Raisi won the final victory, and the Iranian government announced it would resume negotiations after Raisi's inauguration on the 5th of next month, unilaterally halting the talks.

The difficulties in negotiations between the two sides stem from Iran's conflicts with Western countries and Arab League nations, including Saudi Arabia, on various issues beyond the nuclear matter. The U.S. and Arab League countries led by Saudi Arabia insist that the restoration of the Iran nuclear deal must also include negotiations on Iran's ballistic missile development and support for Shiite armed groups in the Middle East.

Iran's supreme leadership has expressed strong distrust toward Western countries. The previous day, Supreme Leader Khamenei stated at the last cabinet meeting during President Rouhani's term, "In recent nuclear negotiations, the U.S. insisted on adding new provisions to the existing agreement and maintained a stubborn stance," adding, "Western countries were completely unfair and malicious in the negotiations." He further emphasized, "We have learned the lesson that we must never trust Western countries through this nuclear deal."

Both the U.S. and Iran have issued strong statements, and with Raisi, who is subject to U.S. sanctions, set to assume the presidency, concerns are rising that the Iran nuclear deal negotiations may completely collapse. The Associated Press reported, "Hopes for a swift restoration of the Iran nuclear deal have dimmed."

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