According to a diplomatic source, Iran is not ready to return to nuclear talks, which was adjourned on June 20 following the hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi’s victory in the presidential election, until his administration takes office.
This came in an exclusive report by Reuters, which it attributed to a diplomatic source who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The source said, “They are not prepared to come back before the new government.” Stating that it is uncertain whether it means until Raisi formally takes office on August 5 or until his government is established, he added, “We are now talking probably not before mid-August.”
According to the source’s remarks, Tehran informed European officials, who are carrying shuttle diplomacy in the indirect talks between Iran and the US, about their current approach regarding that they would not resume the Vienna talks before mid-August.
The situation is also affirmed by the US State Department. Stating that Washington was ready to resume the talks, a State Department spokesperson told Reuters that, however, the Iranian side demanded more time before returning to the negotiation table to deal with the presidential transition.
Reuters, quoting the spokesperson, reported that “When Iran is done with its process, we are prepared to plan our return to Vienna to continue with our talks… We remain interested in seeking a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA, though as Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made clear, this offer will not be on the table indefinitely.”
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also expressed his hope that the agreement would be reached by the next administration under Ebrahim Raisi. Submitting a 262-page report on the implementation of the JCPOA to the parliament’s national security and foreign policy commission, Zarif wrote in a cover letter attached to the report that “the ongoing negotiations have approached a ‘framework for a possible deal’ on the lifting of US sanctions.” He also added that his ministry hopes that the job will be ‘completed’ by the incoming administration.”
