Iranian newspapers are split over the first comments made by new Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about the 2015 nuclear deal and whether it can be revived to lift US sanctions.
On Sunday, Araghchi denied that the deal between Iran and world powers is “dead,” walking back from earlier comments suggesting the agreement was finished and needed new negotiations.
His remarks came in his first TV interview after taking office last Wednesday.
The nuclear deal fell apart after former US President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018, criticizing it for not addressing Iran's regional activities, especially its ballistic missile program.
In response, Iran gradually stopped complying with the deal, including significantly increasing uranium enrichment after President Joe Biden took office.
Efforts by the Biden administration to revive the deal failed after six rounds of negotiations in Vienna, led by Araghchi, and further talks with Iran’s previous government.
The diplomatic process stalled further with the Ukraine war and Iran’s growing isolation after mass protests in September 2022.
During his election campaign, President Masoud Pezeshkian promised to lift sanctions and improve living conditions, criticizing a 2020 law that allowed Iran to further pull away from the deal.
However, after winning the elections, Pezeshkian, and former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, pledged to follow domestic laws in any negotiations.
Araghchi, too, affirmed his commitment to these laws in parliament and noted that reviving the nuclear talks would be harder now due to changing international conditions, such as the Ukraine war and conflict in Gaza.
He suggested that if the deal is to be revived, it would need amendments, which would be challenging.
Later, Araghchi clarified that his comments did not mean the deal was dead and that Iran would continue negotiations, consulting with other parties to protect Iranian interests.
His remarks came after phone calls with his counterparts in France, Germany, the UK, and the EU’s foreign policy chief.
The reformist newspaper Sazandegi reported that Araghchi told European officials the current deal couldn’t be revived without changes.
Meanwhile, the hardline Khorasan daily highlighted the challenges Araghchi faces, including the expiration of a related UN Security Council resolution in October.
The newspaper Farhikhtegan, linked to a top adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, questioned the value of new negotiations.
An analyst suggested that Iran's foreign policy remains consistent despite government changes, with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei having the final say.
The reformist Arman-e Melli newspaper accused opponents of the deal of distracting from Araghchi's comments and suggested that the new government would pursue national interests if not obstructed.
Some lawmakers who previously opposed the deal now support reviving talks, but one political analyst argued that the deal is effectively dead and cannot be brought back.
