Sina Toossi, Senior Research Analyst at the National Iranian American Council, issued the following the announcement that multilateral negotiations aimed at restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) will resume in Vienna on November 29th:
Back to top“Scheduling a firm date for talks is the first step in revitalizing an agreement that is vital for nonproliferation efforts, regional security and the well-being of the people of Iran. After substantial progress earlier in the year, a return to mutual JCPOA compliance by the U.S. and Iran is within reach but requires greater flexibility by all sides.
“The U.S. and Iran both must avoid unhelpful posturing and instead seek to broaden the political space for an agreement. President Biden would be well served by following the advice of 47 organizations who wrote him a letter this week calling for humanitarian relief for Iran. Such a confidence-building gesture from the U.S. at this stage can lower the wall of U.S.-Iran distrust and give Iran a face-saving path to fully coming back into JCPOA compliance. For Iran, it should free unjustly held dual nationals and agree to negotiate directly with the United States to make the negotiations as straight-forward as possible.
“Iran’s delay in returning to the Vienna negotiations was concerning, but predictable. The JCPOA was the signature achievement of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s predecessor, the moderate Hassan Rouhani. Raisi’s administration wants to portray itself as “smarter” and more methodical in negotiating than Rouhani but has not ruled out a return to the JCPOA. Officials and commentators in the U.S. should not overly read into Iranian posturing and must give diplomacy a chance to succeed.”