Secret negotiations | SAIGON GIAI PHONG NEWSPAPER

SGGP June 22, 2023 06:07

Recently, the US and Iran have held secret talks to seek solutions to de-escalate tensions in the Gulf region, curb Tehran's nuclear program, and resolve the issue of a number of US citizens being detained in Iran.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei listens to a presentation of a model of a nuclear facility. Photo: Asia News

This is a move that signals a reconnection of diplomatic channels between the two sides. Iran and the US have set the goal of recent negotiations to aim for an informal short-term agreement, instead of waiting for a revival of the 2015 deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which has stalled many times.

Mahjoob Zweiri, director of the Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University, said the fact that the two sides were in informal talks suggests that President Joe Biden’s administration is unlikely to want to “give Iran a concession,” especially ahead of next year’s presidential election. Therefore, a short-term deal would be good for both sides and would ease the situation.

An interim deal would also not require congressional approval, which would likely be met with strong opposition, especially from Republicans. On the other hand, a deal could also help Washington and its European allies refrain from pushing for any further sanctions resolutions against Iran. Iran could also hope that the US would release billions of dollars in frozen assets by using sanctions waivers that stipulate they can only be used for humanitarian purposes.

And if the US agrees to lift the partial freeze on Iran’s economic assets, three Iranian-Americans could also be released. The arrival of Iran’s central bank governor in Doha earlier this week is a sign that Qatar could be involved in facilitating this process.

News of the talks comes amid signs that Washington is satisfied with Iran's current level of uranium enrichment.

According to the New York Times, the US is demanding that Iran not enrich uranium to a purity of more than 60%. Iran has increased its nuclear activities since the US withdrew from the JCPOA, arguing that it is not a violation of the agreement.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dam-phan-bi-mat-post694552.html