In light of the increasing momentum to revive negotiations between Western capitals and Tehran over the Iranian nuclear program, 26 Democratic and Republican senators have intensified pressure on President Joe Biden’s administration to prevent it from hastily concluding an agreement they fear could be “bad.”
This comes simultaneously with reports of the European-Iranian talks entering a phase of addressing contentious issues related to uranium enrichment levels and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
These developments coincided with the approval of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the US House of Representatives on a bill that abolishes the so-called “sunset clause” on sanctions imposed since 1996, replacing it with “permanent sanctions” on Iran in order to prevent it from producing any nuclear weapons.
In other news, CNN, quoting a source who requested anonymity, reported on a two-day discussion in Doha between European Union diplomat Enrique Mora and the Iranian top nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri-Kani.
Talks focused on key sticking points, including nuclear enrichment levels and Iranian cooperation with the IAEA, the diplomatic source, who was briefed on the matter, told CNN.
Additionally, the source said the talks appear to be “leading to positive developments on many issues.”
“The current environment has been positive for de-escalation,” added the source.
Mora on Twitter described the talks as “intense,” and Kani tweeted earlier that the two had a “serious and constructive meeting on a range of issues, including “negotiations on sanctions lifting” – a key priority for Tehran.
The meeting came a week after Kani met with officials from the signatories to the deal – formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – France, Germany and the UK.
US and Iranian parties resumed indirect talks late last year, with senior US official Brett McGurk traveling multiple times to Oman for indirect discussions with representatives of the Iranian government.
The Biden administration hopes to achieve at least three demands in these negotiations: curtailing Iran’s nuclear program in the field of atomic weapons development, ceasing attacks by the Iranian proxies against US forces in Syria, and releasing three long-held American prisoners in Iran.
As more signs show renewed contacts between Iran and the West, the 26 senators asked Biden not to rush into a bad agreement.
They expressed their concern over reports that the administration is trying to reach a limited nuclear deal with Iran, which it apparently intends to keep out of the US Congress by not signing a formal document.
“It is crucial for your administration to remain aligned with Congressional efforts related to Iran’s nuclear program and not agree to a pact that fails to achieve our nation’s critical interests,” the letter said.
