Iran Nuclear Talks Resume... Iran "Preparing for US Sanctions Situation"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] As talks to restore the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) have resumed, Iran has stated that it is preparing for the situation regarding U.S. sanctions.

This confirmed Iran's hardline stance in response to earlier U.S. pressure warning of additional measures if the nuclear negotiations fail.

According to local media on the 11th (local time), Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi said at a meeting with Iranian diplomats stationed abroad, "We are doing our best to neutralize U.S. sanctions" and "We are focusing on preparing for sanctions in the areas of oil sales and financial resources."

He also said that if the U.S. decides to lift sanctions during the ongoing nuclear deal restoration talks, a good outcome would be achieved.

He added, "The fact that we proposed a draft agreement to the participating countries shows that Iran is serious about negotiations," and "We are pursuing a good agreement."

President Raisi stated, "Strengthening relations with Middle Eastern countries is the core of Iran's foreign policy," but also argued that "Establishing diplomatic ties with Israel does not stabilize the regional situation."

The U.S. is also maintaining a tough stance. On the 9th, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, meeting with the Israeli Defense Minister, expressed deep concern that Iran is not participating constructively in the negotiations and stated that if the current policy toward Iran fails, the U.S. is prepared to take other options.

Iran rejoined the international community by reaching the nuclear deal in July 2015, which froze its nuclear development in exchange for easing economic sanctions. The agreement involved six countries: the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (the U.S., the U.K., France, Russia, China) and Germany.

However, in May 2018, during former President Donald Trump's administration, the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal and reinstated sanctions on Iran. In response, Iran began violating the nuclear program provisions promised in the deal starting May 2019.

The Joe Biden administration, inaugurated earlier this year, held the first negotiations between the two countries in April aiming to restore the Iran nuclear deal.

The participating countries in the nuclear deal began restoration talks with Iran in Vienna, Austria, in the same month but failed to narrow differences, suspending negotiations on the 3rd and resuming them on the 10th.

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