This website collects cookies to deliver better user experience. Cookie Policy
Accept
Sign In
The Wall Street Publication
  • Home
  • Trending
  • U.S
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Markets
    • Personal Finance
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Arts
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Reading: Iranian demands raise fresh doubts as nuke talks resume
Share
The Wall Street PublicationThe Wall Street Publication
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Trending
  • U.S
  • World
  • Politics
  • Business
    • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Markets
    • Personal Finance
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Style
    • Arts
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 The Wall Street Publication. All Rights Reserved.
The Wall Street Publication > Blog > Trending > Iranian demands raise fresh doubts as nuke talks resume
Trending

Iranian demands raise fresh doubts as nuke talks resume

Editorial Board Published November 29, 2021
Share
Iranian demands raise fresh doubts as nuke talks resume
SHARE

Iran refused to meet face-to-face with American diplomats as talks over the Islamic republic’s suspect nuclear programs resumed Monday in Vienna following a five-month hiatus — a period in which a hardline new government has come to power.

While U.S. officials say time is short for Tehran to bring its uranium enrichment activities back into compliance with limits set by the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, the Biden administration is clinging to hopes that Iran will soften its posture and rejoin the Obama-era agreement. 

But critics say that’s a long shot at best, because the Iranians are demanding Washington make a major concession to get talks rolling — specifically by freeing up billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets as recompense for what Tehran claims was an unfair sabotaging of the nuclear deal by former President Donald Trump in 2018 when he reimposed crushing economic sanctions on Iran and its trading partners. 

The Biden administration has resisted the demand amid tepid signs of progress in Vienna, where Iranian officials met with delegations from China, Russia, France, Germany and Britain — the other signatories of the nuclear deal — at the luxurious Palais Coburg hotel where the deal was signed six years ago. 

With the Iranians refusing to participate in the presence of any Americans, a U.S. delegation headed by special envoy Robert Malley spent Monday hunkered down at a separate hotel, where diplomats from other countries offered updates on the discussions nearby at the Palais. 

Mr. Malley has said the Biden administration is prepared to remove sanctions on Iran, but he also has indicated that his patience for Iranian posturing is wearing out, telling the BBC over the weekend, “If Iran thinks it can use this time to build more leverage and then come back and say they want something better it simply won’t work. We and our partners won’t go for it.” 

‘Positive’ start 

EU officials, who are eager to keep the deal from imploding, said Monday that the talks — the first since hardline Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was sworn in this summer — were off to a promising start. “I feel positive that we can be doing important things for the next weeks,” EU diplomat Enrique Mora told reporters. 

All participants showed willingness to listen to the positions and “sensibilities” of the new Iranian delegation, Mr. Mora said, adding that Tehran’s team made clear it wanted to engage in “serious work” to bring the nuclear deal back to life. 

The European optimism dovetails with the Biden administration’s desire to revive the deal that had given Iran billions of dollars worth of sanctions relief in exchange for limits on the Islamic republic’s nuclear program back in 2015. 

Mr. Trump reimposed harsh U.S. sanctions and attempted to uphold a global embargo on Iranian crude oil by pulling the United States out of the nuclear deal. While U.N. inspectors said Iran has largely observed the letter of the 2015 deal, Mr. Trump and other critics said the agreement did nothing to address what they said was Iran’s support for terrorism and militancy and Tehran’s ballistic missile program. 

Iran responded to the new sanctions by reengaging in aggressive nuclear activities, enriching small batches of uranium at levels of up to 60% purity — a short step from weapons-grade levels of 90%. Iran now also spins advanced centrifuges that had been barred by the 2015 accord, and its uranium stockpiles now far exceed limits imposed by the deal. 

Tehran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and intended for civilian energy uses. However, U.S. intelligence agencies and international inspectors say Iran had an organized nuclear weapons program until 2003. Nonproliferation experts fear the brinkmanship could push Tehran toward even more extreme measures to try to force the West to lift sanctions. 

Making matters more difficult, U.N. nuclear inspectors say they are unable to fully monitor Iran’s program after Tehran limited their access. A trip to Iran last week by the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, failed to make any progress on that issue. 

With that as a backdrop, some regional analysts say covert support from China — one of the key signatories of the 2015 nuclear deal — has helped to keep the Iranian economy afloat over the past few years and may even have made President Raisi even less motivated to negotiate with Washington. 

At issue specifically are Chinese purchases of Iranian oil, which have steadily increased since President Biden arrived in office in January. Data compiled by United Against Nuclear Iran, a bipartisan advocacy group in New York, shows nearly 1 million barrels per day of Iranian crude were reaching China last spring, even as global oil prices were starting to climb sharply. 

The increasing depth of the China-Iran relationship has been largely ignored by the U.S. foreign policy and national security establishment, even as Beijing and Tehran inked a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement in March. 

Russia also has a close relationship with Iran. Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s top representative to this week’s talks in Vienna, said he held “useful” informal consultations with officials from Tehran and Beijing on Sunday. The meeting, he said, was aimed at “better understanding … the updated negotiating position of Tehran.” 

A report Monday by The Associated Press suggested the position is more aggressive than in June, the last time the various parties gathered for talks in Vienna. The report cited maximalist Iranian demands heading into this week’s talks, with Tehran now calling for the U.S. to unfreeze $10 billion in assets as an initial goodwill gesture. 

Ali Bagheri, an Iranian nuclear negotiator, told Iranian state television late Sunday that the Iranian regime “has entered the talks with serious willpower and strong preparation.” He also cautioned that “we cannot anticipate a time frame on the length of these talks now.” 

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh, suggested Monday that the U.S. could “receive a ticket for returning to the room” of the nuclear talks if it agrees to “the real lifting of sanctions.” He also criticized a recent opinion piece written by the foreign ministers of Britain and Israel that pledged to “work night and day to prevent the Iranian regime from ever becoming a nuclear power.” 

Iran’s government regularly portrays Israel as an archenemy, and Israeli leaders have spent recent days escalating a lobbying campaign against the prospect of a renewed nuclear deal with Iran. 

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has taken a more low-key approach than predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu in his attempts to block a new agreement, but he released a new video message Monday warning the Biden administration and other world powers not to give in to “Iran‘s nuclear blackmail” in the push for a deal. 

Tehran seeks to “end sanctions in exchange for almost nothing,” Mr. Bennett warned in the video. 

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid delivered virtually the same message while on a trade trip to Britain on Monday, warning that Tehran will seek to escape the sanctions while holding on to its secret nuclear programs. 

“This is what they have done in the past. And this is what they will do this time as well,” Mr. Lapid told reporters in London. “The intelligence is clear, it leaves no doubt.” 

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, echoing rising impatience in Washington about the lack of progress in talks this year with Iran, said the current round of talks in Vienna may be Tehran’s last chance to cut a deal. 

“As far as I am concerned, these talks are the last opportunity for the Iranians to come to the table and agree to the [2015 nuclear deal],” Ms. Truss said, according to a Reuters news agency account. “… We will look at all options if that doesn’t happen.”

• This article is based in part on wire service reports.

TAGGED:TrendingWall Street Publication
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Omicron spreading fast, but scientists call it ‘mild,’ warn not to panic Omicron spreading fast, but scientists call it ‘mild,’ warn not to panic
Next Article A New Way to Mourn: The Many Screenshots of Virgil Abloh’s DMs A New Way to Mourn: The Many Screenshots of Virgil Abloh’s DMs

Editor's Pick

Heidi Montag Explains Carrying That Terrible Wig to the AMAs

Heidi Montag Explains Carrying That Terrible Wig to the AMAs

Studying Time: 2 minutes Heidi Montag has some explaining to do. On the 2025 American Music Awards, there have been…

By Editorial Board 3 Min Read
The Landscape of International Trade in 2025: Constant Evolution and Strategic Shifts
The Landscape of International Trade in 2025: Constant Evolution and Strategic Shifts

The international trade landscape is in constant flux, and the year 2025…

3 Min Read
Finding Voice Through Silence: The Story of OR GOLAN
Finding Voice Through Silence: The Story of OR GOLAN

In a world where expression is often taken for granted, finding one’s…

6 Min Read

Oponion

Selena Gomez Web Value: Is She Actually A Billionaire Like Taylor Swift?!

Selena Gomez Web Value: Is She Actually A Billionaire Like Taylor Swift?!

Selena Gomez has a jaw-dropping web value: she’s now a…

January 14, 2025

That Blinking Office Voice Mail? Everyone Else Ignores It, Too.

Chris Galdieri hasn’t checked his work…

January 31, 2022

‘The stance looks good’: How SF Giants’ Wade tweaked mechanics to unlock extra energy

SURPRISE, Ariz. — When LaMonte Wade…

February 22, 2025

Flood advisory issued for Alameda and Contra Costa counties till Friday morning

Alameda and Contra Costa counties are…

March 14, 2025

15 Habits Of Nicely-Dressed Males in 2025 | Fashion

We independently consider all advisable services…

February 12, 2025

You Might Also Like

Tenvil Mackenson: Rebuilding Haiti, Brick by Brick
LifestyleTrending

Tenvil Mackenson: Rebuilding Haiti, Brick by Brick

In a country often entangled in instability and shadowed by accusations of corruption and criminal conspiracies, Tenvil Mackenson has emerged as a striking…

4 Min Read
Lara Rose’s Journey from Aspiring Trauma Surgeon to a Seven-Figure Earning Digital Entrepreneur
Trending

Lara Rose’s Journey from Aspiring Trauma Surgeon to a Seven-Figure Earning Digital Entrepreneur

You never know when a viral moment will change your entire life. That was certainly the case for Lara Rose,…

5 Min Read
Experience Seamless Live TV with Germany’s Free Platform – Live Stream
EntertainmentTrending

Experience Seamless Live TV with Germany’s Free Platform – Live Stream

In a world where digital convenience is king, watching live television has never been easier, thanks to Live Stream –…

2 Min Read
Fashion Designer Hyeonseo Irene Park: Redefining Menswear Through Originality and Collaboration
LifestyleTrending

Fashion Designer Hyeonseo Irene Park: Redefining Menswear Through Originality and Collaboration

In the dynamic world of fashion, collaboration has emerged as a powerful engine for innovation and creative synergy. Few embody…

4 Min Read
The Wall Street Publication

About Us

The Wall Street Publication, a distinguished part of the Enspirers News Group, stands as a beacon of excellence in journalism. Committed to delivering unfiltered global news, we pride ourselves on our trusted coverage of Politics, Business, Technology, and more.

Company

  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement

Contact

  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability

Term of Use

  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices

© 2024 The Wall Street Publication. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?