Iran Open to Favorable Initiatives amid US’s Call for De-escalation

Iran Open to Favorable Initiatives amid US’s Call for De-escalation

The United States has suggested its preparedness to commence diplomatic discussions with Iran concerning its contentious nuclear program. The condition laid down by the US is that Iran must take measurable steps towards de-escalation. This development comes in the wake of a recent report indicating a proposal from Japan to initiate talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.

Iran Welcomes Favorable Initiatives

Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, has expressed that any initiative aligning with Iran’s interests would be well-received. He has also acknowledged Japan’s constructive role in efforts to revive the nuclear deal. The US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, while unaware of this specific initiative, emphasized that the US believes diplomacy is the best approach to ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.

Concerns Over Iran’s Nuclear Program

Iran has been the subject of concern after it prevented a third of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) most experienced inspectors from accessing its nuclear facilities. Countries such as the US, Britain, France, and Germany have called on Iran to clarify questions over its nuclear program. These questions include concerns over monitoring cameras and the presence of uranium particles enriched to near weapons-grade level.

(Read Also: Reinforcing the Iraqi Dinar: A Shift in Iraq’s Monetary Policy)

Potential for Direct or Indirect Talks

Matthew Miller clarified that the US could resume direct or indirect discussions with Iran if de-escalatory steps were taken. Recent reports suggest that Iran’s top leader has given the green light for direct talks with the US over its nuclear program. This move comes after Washington stated it had blocked Abdollahian from visiting.

US Advocates Diplomacy Over Force

The US has publicly shown little interest in returning to the negotiation table but has consistently promoted diplomacy as its preferred method of stopping Iran from achieving nuclear weapons capabilities. The US recently negotiated a prisoner swap with Tehran that included the unfreezing of some $6 billion in Iranian money.

(Read Also: Iran’s Petrochemical Industry: A Beacon of Economic Strength and Diplomacy)

Complications in Reaching a Deal

However, the prospects of a deal could be complicated by Iran’s alleged arming of Russia to support its invasion of Ukraine and domestic US politics. Analysts believe that US President Joe Biden is unlikely to agree to a new nuclear deal before the elections in November 2024.

Read More