An aggravating disagreement between Europe and Iran over the first step to return to diplomacy

[yota691]

An aggravating disagreement between Europe and Iran over the first step to return to diplomacy

February 12, 2021

157

Paris-Time

Major European countries said Friday that Iran risks missing the opportunity to initiate diplomatic efforts to fully implement the 2015 deal Regarding its nuclear program after it began producing metallic uranium in the latest violation of the agreement.

“By increasing their non-compliance, Iran is undermining the opportunity to return to.” Britain, France and Germany said in a statement Diplomacy to fully achieve the objectives of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ».

They added the signatories to the 2015 agreement, along with Russia, China and the United States that left it unilaterally in 2015 2018 under President Donald Trump, “Iran is committed under the agreement not to produce metallic uranium and not Conducting research and development in the field of uranium mining for a period of 15 years ».

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported on Wednesday evening that Iran had begun producing metallic uranium, explaining that it On February 8th, it “verified” the presence of “3,6 grams of metallic uranium in Isfahan facility »(center). This issue is sensitive, as metallic uranium could be used in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. In response to the European statements, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif confirmed that Iran is not the party that You should take the first step after the American withdrawal, and he accused the Europeans of not doing enough to salvage the agreement.

"With any logic, Iran should abandon the corrective measures taken after a full year," he said in a tweet From the withdrawal of the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action? (...) What did the Group of Three countries do? To fulfill its obligations? ”Among the provisions of the nuclear agreement is that “if it sees Iran or any country from the group of European countries The three / the European Union and the three countries, or that all of those countries do not fulfill their obligations under the plan This action », and after a series of procedures specified by the agreement,« that participant can deal with The unresolved issue as a basis for stopping the implementation of his obligations under this Action Plan in whole or in part and / Or notify the United Nations Security Council that it believes that the issue constitutes a major shortcoming. .

The European countries said   in their statement «We reiterate that these activities constitute an essential step in the development of A nuclear weapon, which lacks any reliable civil justification in Iran, ”calling for it at the time The same to "put an end to it without delay and refrain from any further violation of its nuclear obligations."

This new violation negatively affects the nuclear deal, which has been threatened with collapse since the US withdrawal from it and the re-imposition of sanctions Economical on Tehran.

Iran had responded to the US move by gradually abandoning a number of its commitments. This is justified by the fact that Article 36 of the agreement allows any party to withdraw from its obligations in the event that it finds that Other parties do not honor their obligations.

US President Joe Biden's assumption of power in Washington has raised hope that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) can be revived Tehran's nuclear program.

However, Tehran and Washington both invite the other side to take the first step to resume a serious dialogue.

[yota691]

 

The US State Department excludes returning to the agreement with Iran

 

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 2021-02-14 15:33

 

 

Shafaq News / The US State Department confirmed, on Sunday, that the new White House administration is far from returning to the nuclear agreement with Iran, while it described the military partnership with Saudi Arabia as "close and continuous."

 

The regional spokeswoman for the US State Department, Geraldine Griffiths, said in a statement to Saudi Arabia, that Washington is far from returning to the agreement with Iran for the latter's failure to fulfill its obligations.

 

She indicated that the United States is consulting with partners in the Middle East region to ensure security and stability, adding that the solution to the crisis in Yemen will not be military, and that her country is cooperating with Saudi Arabia to solve the Yemen crisis politically.

 

Griffiths indicated that the US envoy to Yemen is holding talks to resolve the crisis politically, stressing that Washington is pressing the Houthis to defuse the Yemeni crisis, and that it seeks to stop the support the Houthis receive from Iran.

 

Griffiths described the military partnership with Saudi Arabia as "close and continuous," and reiterated her country's support for Saudi Arabia in defending its lands.

[yota691]

Tehran is determined to maturity February 20

Tuesday 16th February 2021 86

 

 Tehran: Muhammad Salih Sidqian

 

Iran said that it is committed to the February 20th due to reconsider the work of the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Iran. Meanwhile, the Qatari Foreign Minister visited Tehran yesterday to assess the Iranian position regarding the mediation that Doha is carrying out between Tehran and Washington. 

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatib Zadeh said, in his press briefing yesterday, that if the parties concerned do not abide by the nuclear agreement until February 20, the Iranian government will be obliged to stop the voluntary work in the protocol attached to the NPT. This protocol allows inspection teams to enter nuclear facilities without prior permission. Iran has not signed this protocol yet, but after the 2015 nuclear agreement was reached, it pledged to work with it on a voluntary basis to prove good faith on the Iranian side. The International Atomic Energy Agency set up a strict program to monitor and supervise Iran's nuclear program after the nuclear deal was reached in 2015. 

[yota691]

Washington accepts a European invitation for nuclear talks in which Iran will participate

 

Michel Ghandour - Washington

Updated 18 Feb. 2021

 

 

Unilateral steps exacerbate tension between the Israelis and Palestinians

The US State Department spokesman, Ned Price, confirmed, Thursday, that the United States accepts an invitation from the High Representative of the European Union to participate in the meeting of the five countries plus one and Iran to discuss the diplomatic path forward in the Iranian nuclear file.

A senior official in the US State Department said to Al-Hurra: All issues will be raised on the table with Iran and the Six Countries with regard to the next phase.

An official added that the US mission at the United Nations informed Britain of the return of the United States of the previous administration's decision to re-impose UN sanctions on Iran that were lifted under the nuclear agreement.

Earlier Thursday, White House spokeswoman Jane Saki said that the United States is working with its allies to determine the future of the nuclear deal with Iran, noting that Tehran is still far from fulfilling the requirements of this agreement.

"We are working and coordinating closely with our allies with the aim of determining the future of the nuclear deal with Iran," Sacchi said in an Internet news briefing.

She added that "Iran is far from fulfilling the obligations of the nuclear agreement," stressing that "our goal is to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon."

And the International Atomic Energy Agency reported last week that Iran had begun producing metallic uranium in violation of the agreement, prompting European powers to warn that Tehran "undermines the chances of reviving diplomacy."

The foreign ministers of major European countries and the United States are discussing, on Thursday, the issue of reviving the 2015 agreement concluded with Iran regarding its nuclear program, days before the expiration of a deadline set by Tehran that will then impose restrictions on inspections.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will host his German and British counterparts in Paris, while the new US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will join them via video link, the French Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday.
Prior to the meeting, US President Joe Biden held talks at night with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which they discussed "the Iranian threat and regional challenges," according to the transcript of the call published by the White House.

The spokesman for the US State Department, Ned Price, said Wednesday that Iran should "cooperate fully and in a timely manner" with the agency.

He called on Tehran to "retreat from its steps and refrain from taking other steps that might affect the assurances of the International Atomic Energy Agency."

[yota691]

A European-American statement warns Tehran of "dangerous" repercussions for any restriction of the work of IAEA inspectors

February 18, 2021

184

 

Paris, - (AFP) - France, Britain, Germany and the United States warned Iran on Thursday of "dangerous" repercussions for moving ahead with its threat to impose restrictions on International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors, stressing the need for Tehran to return to full compliance with the terms of the nuclear deal.

The three European countries and the United States confirmed, after talks between them, that they are “united in warning of the seriousness of any decision that would restrict the work of the IAEA inspectors,” with the near expiration of a deadline in this regard set by the Iranian Shura Council, ending on February 21.

On Thursday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian hosted his German counterparts Heiko Maas and British Dominique Raab in Paris, where they held talks, in which US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken participated via video link.

The European-American statement urged "Iran to take into account the repercussions of such a dangerous step, especially at this time that provides a diplomatic opportunity," expressing the agreement of the assembled countries on the need for Tehran to "fully comply" with the terms of the nuclear agreement.

Analysts suggest that there is still a chance to salvage the historic agreement, which received a near-fatal blow when former US President Donald Trump announced his country's withdrawal from it in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

The administration of the new US President, Joe Biden, has expressed its readiness to rejoin the agreement and start lifting sanctions if Iran returns to fulfill all of its obligations stipulated in it, a condition that Iran, whose economy is deteriorating, is unhappy with it.

Iran intends to impose restrictions on some inspections conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency in the event that Washington does not lift its sanctions that have been imposed since 2018, and it has set a deadline for that which expires on February 21.

Blinken reiterated that if Iran "returns to fully fulfill its obligations" stipulated in the nuclear agreement, "the United States will reciprocate it and it (Washington) is ready to engage in talks with Iran for this purpose."

The four countries expressed their concern about the recent Iranian violations of the nuclear agreement, represented by Tehran's production of uranium enriched by 20 percent and metallic uranium.

"These activities do not have any credible civil justification," the statement said, explaining that "the production of metallic uranium is an essential step in the development of a nuclear weapon."

[yota691]

 

Washington announces its readiness for talks with Tehran and begins to lift UN sanctions

 

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 2021-02-19 07:46

 

Shafaq News / Richard Mills, the acting US ambassador to the United Nations, announced, Thursday, February 18, 2021, that the United States withdrew the confirmation of the administration of former President Donald Trump, re-imposing all UN sanctions on Iran in September.

This came in a letter sent by Mills to the UN Security Council, which was reviewed by Reuters.

Washington withdrew in May 2018 from the nuclear agreement signed in 2015 between Iran and the (5 + 1) group, which includes Russia, Britain, China, the United States, France and Germany, and imposed economic sanctions on Tehran.

In January 2020, Iran announced that it would suspend all its commitments contained in the nuclear agreement, in response to Washington’s assassination of Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani, the Iraqi Deputy Head of the Popular Mobilization Authority, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, and others in an air strike in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Biden is ready for the talks

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also told European allies Thursday that the Biden administration was ready for talks with Iran about the two countries returning to abide by the nuclear deal.

The United States would be ready to hold talks with Iran if the European Union extended an invitation to do so, charting a potential diplomatic pathway to restore the Iran nuclear deal, a senior US official told Reuters.

As the American official said, after talks between the foreign ministers of the United States, Britain, France and Germany, "We are ready to participate if such a meeting is held."

The American official pointed out that his country had informed the Iranian mission to the United Nations that it would ease travel restrictions on Iranian diplomats, stressing that "the Biden administration did not communicate with Iranian officials other than reporting the easing of travel restrictions."

First chance

While a second US official said that there is now an opportunity for the first time in years to end the maximum pressure and return to diplomacy with Iran, stressing that Iran's suspension of the additional protocol and preventing sudden inspections would be a "dangerous step," and it is difficult to imagine reviving the nuclear agreement if it is not Some regional issues are addressed (without specification).

This was preceded by statements by a senior European Union official, who confirmed that he was ready to call a meeting between the parties to the agreement concerned.

The United States urged Wednesday, February 17, to abstain from any steps that could harm its obligations contained in the agreement, especially as US President Joe Biden seeks to return to the agreement under which Iran agreed to impose restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. And it was a major achievement for the administration of former President Barack Obama until Trump withdrew from it.

But although Tehran and Washington now say they want to revive the agreement, they disagree on who should take the first step.

Iran says that the United States must first lift the sanctions imposed by Trump, while Washington says that Tehran must first return to abiding by the agreement, which it began violating - according to the accusations directed against it - after the re-imposition of sanctions.

The agreement stipulates Tehran's commitment to abandon, for a period of not less than 10 years, vital parts of its nuclear program, and to restrict it significantly, with the aim of preventing it from having the ability to develop nuclear weapons, in exchange for the lifting of sanctions.

European Union and Diplomacy

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, confirmed to the Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani, Thursday, February 18, 2021, the importance of giving priority to diplomacy for the continuation of the nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers at the current stage.

Michel stressed the importance of the full implementation of the agreement, expressing his concern about Tehran abandoning its obligations related to the said agreement.

He also referred to the importance of Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, stressing that “preserving the diplomatic field supported by positive steps is vital at this stage,” adding that the European Union will continue its efforts to fully implement the agreement and return the United States to it.

Iran is playing with fire

It should be noted that German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned, Thursday, February 18, 2021, that the talks regarding the nuclear agreement (for the year 2015) are getting much more complicated at the present time, because Iran, in his opinion, is not seeking to reduce the escalation, but to escalate, and this is playing with fire. According to him.

Maas emphasized that the latest steps taken by Iran endanger the possibility of the United States returning to the nuclear agreement, adding that "the greater the pressure, the more difficult it is to find a political solution."

Rare connection

It is noteworthy that German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a rare call, Wednesday, February 17, 2021, with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, during which she expressed "concern" about the future of the nuclear agreement, in light of what she described as Tehran's retreat from its obligations within it, calling on Tehran to "signs Positive increases the chances of a diplomatic solution. "

German government spokesman Steven Seibert said that Merkel's call dealt with ways to prevent Tehran from evading its obligations to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect Iran's nuclear facilities.

Actions, not words

On Wednesday, February 17th, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, asked the United States for "actions, not words" if it wanted to revive the nuclear deal, in the latest challenge to US President Joe Biden, to take the first step towards breaking the stalemate of the situation. .

Tehran has set a deadline for Biden next week, in order to start rolling back the sanctions imposed by his predecessor Donald Trump, otherwise Iran will take its biggest step so far to violate the nuclear deal, by banning inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency, shortly after a notification was given.

Khamenei said, in a speech broadcast on state television, that they heard many "beautiful" words and promises that were violated on the ground, stressing that "there is no point in words and promises. This time we ask for the practical implementation of promises only and the fulfillment of them, and if we see that on the side." The other, we'll do the work too. "

It is noteworthy that talks began, Thursday, February 18, 2021, between the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Britain and the United States on how to save the agreement aimed at containing the Iranian nuclear program.

And in its latest move to increase pressure on Washington, Iran informed the International Atomic Energy Agency, of the United Nations, that it plans to install more advanced IR-2M centrifuges at the underground uranium enrichment plant in Natanz. This was stated in a report by the agency on Wednesday.

On February 1, an IAEA report indicated that Iran had operated a second series of IR-2M centrifuges at the Natanz fuel enrichment plant, and was installing two others. Iran's 2015 agreement with the major powers stipulates that it can only enrich at a fuel enrichment plant using first-generation centrifuges that are much less efficient than IR-1.

[yota691]

Iran rejects the European Union's invitation to participate in the (5 + 1) meeting

Saturday 20th February 2021 27

 

 Tehran: Muhammad Salih Sidqian 

 

Iran initially rejected the positive signals sent by the administration of US President Joe Biden, by withdrawing a draft resolution from the UN Security Council sent by the previous US administration calling for the re-imposition of sanctions on Iran, and Washington’s approval to participate in a meeting of the (5 + 1) group with the participation of Tehran.

However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh believed that the (5 + 1) group ceased to exist after the United States withdrew from the nuclear agreement. In reference to the inability to hold a meeting for this group with the participation of the American side.

Khatib Zadeh said on Friday: "The (5 + 1) group, because of the US withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, no longer exists," noting that "the symbolic moves are good." But in order to revive the (5 + 1) group, the United States must act and lift all kinds of embargoes. ”

"Now there is a group (4 + 1) and remember that Trump left the nuclear deal room and tried to blow it up," he added.

The Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had set a condition for holding a meeting of the well-known hexagonal group (5 + 1) with Iran's participation, which is the cancellation of sanctions, but he believed that the American participation in such a meeting that Iran is attending before the sanctions can be canceled could harm Iranian interests.

And Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif believed that the new US administration had recognized the error of former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's reading of Resolution (2231). And it must return to the table (5 + 1) after removing all the sanctions imposed by the previous US administration.

He said in a tweet: The road is easy and consists of three steps. Recognition of Resolution (2231); Sanctions canceled; And then return to meeting at table (5 + 1); In a clear response to its disagreement with the European Union’s invitation to the American side for an informal meeting of the Western Six-Party with Iran.

Zarif believed that the option of pressuring Iran was futile, just as the "empty statements" were useless. Pointing out that the measures that Iran is currently taking come within the framework of Article (36) of the nuclear agreement, which are defensive measures as a result of the US withdrawal and European countries evade the implementation of their obligations.

He said that the Europeans know that we have given them an opportunity to correct what they have missed. And Iran will return to square one if the Europeans and Americans abide by their pledges.

The Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, will visit Iran today, Saturday, to discuss the mechanism of work of the inspection teams, after a deadline set by Iran that ends at the end of the day to stop the work of the additional protocol that gives these teams a large margin of movement in Iranian nuclear facilities.

[yota691]

 

Israel intends to take a tough policy with Biden because of the Iranian nuclear file

 

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 2021-02-23 06:23

 

 

Shafaq News / The Israeli government is heading to take a strict policy towards US President Joe Biden, regarding the United States' return to the Iran nuclear deal.

 

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (Makan) stated that Israel wants to pursue a hard-line policy towards Biden, regarding the Iranian nuclear file, in a clear indication of a possible dispute in the Iranian file between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

 

She indicated that, on Monday, Netanyahu held a session of consultations to discuss the possibility of resuming negotiations between the United States and Iran, on the nuclear file.

 

The Israeli Authority quoted informed sources as saying that the question raised on the discussion agenda is: Should Israel support or oppose the American position on renewing the agreement in two stages, first returning to the nuclear agreement, and then seeking to include Iran's ballistic missile project. In agreement.

 

She indicated that the opinions of those present at the meeting were divided, as Defense and Foreign Minister Benny Gantz and Gabi Ashkenazi support adopting a moderate position on this issue and initiating a dialogue with the White House in this regard, and the opinion of the Israeli Chief of Staff, Aviv Kochavi, also shares the same opinion.

 

And the broadcasting organization pointed out that Israel has intensified its pressure in recent weeks on the European countries that signed the nuclear agreement, in an attempt to prevent a return to the old agreement, so Israel tried to persuade France, Britain and Germany to add clauses to any agreement that might be signed with Tehran, if negotiations in this file were resumed. .

 

According to the commission, the prevailing belief in Israel is that Europe is not satisfied with Iran's recent actions, and for this it sees an opportunity to influence the relevant countries.

 

It is noteworthy that Israel had strongly opposed the agreement that the administration of former US President Barack Obama and the major powers reached with Iran regarding its nuclear program in 2015.

 

At that time, Israel waged a major international media campaign against the agreement, which culminated in Netanyahu's speech before Congress, which strained his relationship with the Obama administration.

 

These Israeli objections to the agreement remain until today. Last Friday, Israel objected to Washington's intention to return to the 2015 nuclear agreement, so Netanyahu's office said, in a statement, that his government adheres to "its commitment to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and its position on the nuclear agreement ( For 2015) has not changed.

 

This Israeli position came after Washington officially informed the UN Security Council, last Thursday, of canceling the sanctions imposed by Trump on Iran, known as "Snapback".

[yota691]

 

A leaked document threatens the recent agreement between Iran and the IAEA

 

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 2021-02-26 09:20

 

 

Shafaq News / The Iranian government has threatened to withdraw from the agreement it recently concluded with the International Atomic Energy Agency, in case the agency’s board of governors adopts a US-led effort to criticize Tehran next week.

 

Reuters reported that Iran this week reduced its cooperation with the IAEA and ended additional inspection procedures that were applied under the nuclear agreement it concluded with world powers in 2015, in the latest step to respond to the re-imposition of US sanctions on it after Washington withdrew from the agreement in 2018.

 

In a document sent by Washington to the remaining members of the IAEA ahead of next week's quarterly meeting of the agency's board of governors, it said it wanted a draft resolution expressing the board's deep concern regarding Iran's cooperation with the agency.

 

The American document stated that the council should call on Iran to stop its violations of the agreement and cooperate with the agency to explain why uranium particles were found in old, undeclared sites, in findings that were first published by Reuters and then confirmed by the IAEA report this week.

 

Iran, in turn, said in its document that it considers this step "destructive and represents an end to the mutual understanding reached on February 21 between the agency and the Islamic Republic of Iran," referring to an agreement with the Agency's Director General, Rafael Grossi, which was concluded early this week.

 

She added that this "may lead to more complications in the nuclear deal," noting that France, Britain, Germany and the United States "revealed their plans" regarding a draft resolution to the Council.

 

Diplomats said it was not clear whether the council would adopt a draft resolution.

 

Iran did not mention the measures that it stopped implementing this week, but said that they include so-called additional protocol that allows the IAEA to conduct surprise inspections at undisclosed sites.

[yota691]

Tehran: The time is not right for a meeting on the nuclear issue

February 28, 2021

70

Pompeo: Arab leaders trusted America's friendship after Soleimani was killed

Jerusalem - Beirut - Tehran - time

On Sunday, Iran considered that the time was "not appropriate" for a meeting on the nuclear deal, in response to a proposal A European visit to hold an informal meeting to discuss ways to revive the agreement from which Washington unilaterally withdrew in 2018 .

"Given the current positions and the steps of the United States and European countries," said a statement by the spokesman, Saeed Khatib Zadeh Of the three (part of the agreement), the Islamic Republic of Iran considers the time not appropriate for a meeting Unofficial proposed by the European Coordinator of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action », the official name of the agreement between Iran And the six major powers in 2015.

The spokesman stressed that “there has been no change in the United States’ stances and behavior yet. New President Joe Biden was not satisfied that he did not abandon the policy of + maximum pressure + failed (of his predecessor Donald) Trump did not even announce its commitment to respect its responsibilities under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the Security Council resolution International 2231 ». In February, the European Union’s political director, Enrique Moura, proposed a meeting Informal, with the participation of all parties to the nuclear agreement, in a proposal that Washington welcomed.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry’s statement on Sunday stressed that “the implementation of the obligations of all parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is not.” An issue for negotiation (...) The way forward is very clear: The United States must put an end to its unilateral sanctions And illegal and due to the obligations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ».

Khatib Zadeh reiterated his country's position that "it will respond to step by step, and will also return to the commitments of the action plan." "The joint comprehensive, in the event of lifting the sanctions, will respond to the hostile steps in the same way."

Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo affirmed that "many" in Saudi Arabia want to normalize relations with Israel, expressing his hope that the kingdom would join the "Abraham Accords" that were concluded in The shadow of Donald Trump's administration. The comments were made by Pompeo, who served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Secretary of State in the Trump administration, in Video recording directed at the "Anti-Anti-Semitism Movement", which will award him the "Global Leadership Award" Monday.

Pompeo noted that the United States killed the commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Qassem Soleimani, in a raid Aircraft in Baghdad last year helped reach the "Abraham Accords," as the operation helped In building confidence between Washington and its Arab allies.

"When leaders in the Arab world saw that the United States was ready to do that, confrontation," the former minister said Iran and the leadership of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, by personally targeting Qassem Soleimani, they realized that they had a friend » . He continued, "They knew that they could ... establish a series of agreements with the State of Israel: These are not unrelated issues." It is deeply connected, one of them cannot happen without the other ».

During Trump's presidency, four Arab countries - the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan - agreed to establish relations With Israel.

There were speculations in the Israeli press about other Arab countries that might be interested in establishing relations with the Hebrew state. At a time when the normalization of relations with Saudi Arabia is an important gain for the Jewish state.

Pompeo said in the recording that "it has proven that predicting the future is difficult for me," indicating his belief That "much" of the other country will seek to establish relations with Israel.

"I hope that Saudi Arabia will find its way to join the Abraham Accords," he said. I know that many people in this country want this to happen. ”

Israeli sources had indicated that Pompeo and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Saudi city of Neom, on the Red Sea, in November.

The meeting, which Riyadh denied, sparked speculation in Israel about the possibility of an approaching agreement to normalize relations with Riyadh

But the kingdom has publicly stressed its decades-old policy of not establishing relations with Israel until it is reached Agreement to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

[yota691]

Officially, Tehran announces its rejection of a European proposal to hold an informal meeting

International

2021-02-28 | 17:02

 

 

345 views

 

Iran officially announced its rejection of a European proposal to hold an informal meeting with the 4 + 1 countries with the participation of the United States.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said that it is based on recent positions and measures United State And European countries, the Tehran It is considered inappropriate time to hold the informal meeting proposed by the European foreign policy coordinator Joseph Borrell.

 

 

The Foreign Ministry confirmed that there was no change in attitudes and behavior United State And the administration of the US President Joe Biden She has not publicly given up the maximum pressure policy that she initiated Trump.

It reported that the Biden administration had not announced its commitment to implement all its obligations in the nuclear agreement and Resolution 2231.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry stressed that the implementation of the obligations by all parties to the nuclear agreement is not a matter that needs negotiation and bargaining, and that all negotiations took place five years ago.

[yota691]

The first European emphasis on the Iranian nuclear file

March 1, 2021

87

Tehran confirms its adherence to the condition of lifting the sanctions before the dialogue with Washington

 

Tehran has said that Washington must first lift sanctions against Iran if it wants to hold talks To save the nuclear agreement signed in 2015 with world powers,   from which former US President Donald withdrew Trump.

"The administration of President Joe Biden should change the pressure policy," said State Department spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh Trump's extreme approach towards Tehran ... If it wants to hold talks with Iran, it has to First, lift the sanctions.

The Europeans have chosen to toughen up the rhetoric toward Iran, as the three European signatories offer the Iran nuclear deal In 2015 this week, the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency has a draft resolution condemning Tehran's suspension of some Inspections, diplomatic sources said Monday. According to this transcript, which was seen by Agence France-Presse, Germany, France and Britain “express their concern The adult »and“ Iran calls for the immediate resumption ”of all inspection programs stipulated in the 2015 agreement. The text, backed by the United States, will be put to a vote in the IAEA Board of Governors on Friday, however It is not unanimous among the other signatories to the Iran nuclear deal, especially Russia and China.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned "a bad maneuver." In an informal note addressed to member states, which was seen by AFP, Iran warned that “Proposing a decision in complete disregard for constructive exchanges with the agency, would be completely counter-productive and destructive »The Europeans had warned Iran in June 2020 after the Islamic Republic refused to allow observers The agency searched two suspicious sites. This was the first decision to criticize Tehran since 2012. And if the resolution is approved, Iran has threatened to “put an end” to the temporary technical agreement concluded on 21 February with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which allows the UN agency to continue inspections , Although curtailed, until the resumption of diplomatic talks. But a diplomat told AFP that it was a question of "credibility" for the agency's board of governors who did not They can submit to the "blackmail of the Iranians" even though this could threaten the chances of salvaging the agreement near future. "This risk should be taken," he added. But a diplomat told AFP that it was a question of "credibility" for the agency's board of governors who did not They can submit to the "blackmail of the Iranians" even though this could threaten the chances of salvaging the agreement near future. "This risk should be taken," he added. But a diplomat told AFP that it was a question of "credibility" for the agency's board of governors who did not They can submit to the "blackmail of the Iranians" even though this could threaten the chances of salvaging the agreement near future. "This risk should be taken," he added.

For its part, Iran affirms that it "granted in good faith a grace period to the other party", through its agreement To provide all surveillance camera data and other tools in case the sanctions are lifted within three months. Earlier, the agency’s director general, Rafael Grossi, called in front of reporters to "preserve" operations The inspection conducted by his commission in Iran and not turning it into a "bargaining chip" during the negotiations. Grossi described the suspension of inspections as a "colossal loss," but when asked if it was still The agency can assure the international community that Iran's nuclear program is purely peaceful, he responded by saying, “Even Now the situation is good »

"Iran has shown," Kelsey Davenport, an official at Arms Control Association, told AFP Restrained in negotiating this technical agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, it would be stupid That the Americans waste the time that was won, calling on Washington for a "concrete initiative."

She explained that the UN agency can continue its work "in the short term", adding "But if." "The situation continues as it is, and confidence in the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program will be shaken."

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action has remained hanging by a thread since the US withdrawal from it in 2018 by the decision of Former US President Donald Trump and the re-imposition of US sanctions on Iran.

Joe Biden promised to return to the agreement, “if” Iran would once again abide by the agreement.

However, the Islamic Republic took a new step on the road to disengaging from the agreement with its transition to the level of uranium enrichment By 20 percent and the production of metallic uranium and reducing the work of inspectors, with the goal of pushing the United States to Lifting punitive measures that stifle its economy.

On Sunday evening, Iran considered that the time is not appropriate to hold a meeting, "given the current positions and the steps of the states." The United States and the Three European Countries »Participate in the agreement.

"There is no doubt that The influential forces in Washington worked to obstruct this meeting, denouncing the raids launched by the American forces on Friday On the pro-Iranian forces in Syria.

[nannab]

Not so tuff now you big bunch of cry babies. 😭

Thanks ya Yota  

[screwball]

sanctions will not happen....

[yota691]

Iran decides its position on negotiations with Washington: We have a fatwa on nuclear weapons!

2021.03.10 - 12:40

 

  

Baghdad - People  

The head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Authority, Ali Akbar Salehi, confirmed, Wednesday, that Tehran is not seeking to manufacture nuclear weapons and that it has a legal and final fatwa to do so.  

  

 

  

"Iran and the United States are stuck in a dead end to start the nuclear negotiations, and Tehran wants the first step to be American," said Salehi, followed by "People", followed by "People" (March 10, 2021). First, it sits at the negotiating table, then Tehran will accept negotiations to return to the restrictions imposed on the nuclear program in the 2015 agreement.  

Salehi added that "whoever withdraws from the nuclear agreement must return to it first, and that does not need to be complicated," noting that "returning to the nuclear agreement will enable Iran to return to work with the additional protocol."

[yota691]

Zarif: Time is running out for America and it must return to the nuclear deal

•  Time: 03/15/2021 15:37:53
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•  Read: 273 times

  

{International: Al Furat News} The Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said, "The whole world will become insecure if security is undermined in a country, and no country can guarantee its security by destabilizing the security of other countries and putting pressure on them."

 

Zarif added, just as we made missiles, we were able to manufacture the Corona vaccine, noting that "the West has monopolized Corona vaccines three times its need."

In an interview with the European Policy Center, he said, via video technology, that "the United States should return to implementing the nuclear agreement and there is no need for further negotiations."

He continued: There is no evidence of any new negotiations with Washington, and Tehran is ready to reverse the steps to reduce the commitment as soon as the United States adheres to the nuclear agreement and lift the sanctions.

And he added: The 2015 agreement is the best agreement that can be reached despite all the flaws in it from the point of view of Tehran and the West.

The Iranian foreign minister emphasized that the current or the next US administration could not reach a better agreement.

He said, "The European Union can play a very important role in the return of all parties to the nuclear deal," adding, "We hope that the European troika will realize that the United States is responsible for the current status of the nuclear agreement, not Iran."

Zarif indicated that "Iran will continue to resist pressure if Washington decides to continue the policy of the previous American administration."

He noted, "The Biden administration is pursuing the same policy that the Trump administration followed," explaining that time is running out for the United States to revive the nuclear agreement due to the presidential elections that will be held in Iran in June, which will have to wait for a period of up to six months.

He said, "We do not see the necessity of holding preliminary talks with Washington. We demand that the United States adhere to the nuclear agreement before any negotiations."

He stressed that "Tehran is ready to engage in dialogue on regional issues, but America and Europe are required to take some steps."

He pointed out that the discussions on the nuclear agreement ended in 2015, and the Iranian missile system is separate from the issue of nuclear weapons, stressing that Iran does not have nuclear weapons and does not seek to acquire them.

Zarif asked: "Are the United States and Europe ready to stop selling arms to countries in the region, especially Saudi Arabia?"

He noted, "Tehran is ready to discuss its initiative to solve the Yemeni crisis with the Gulf states."

He stressed that "the situation in Yemen must be resolved only through the Yemeni people, and this is part of the Iranian initiative, but Saudi Arabia is not doing enough to reach an agreement aimed at ending the Yemeni conflict." 

Forgiveness Al-Khalidi

 

[yota691]

Kushner calls Biden move on Iran 'smart'

BY DOMINICK MASTRANGELO - 03/15/21 08:36 AM EDT 182

 

 

 

 

Jared Kushner, former President Trump's son-in-law and a former senior White House adviser, praised President Biden for signaling he is open to rejoining the Iran deal and said his administration has an opportunity to ensure peace in the Middle East. 

Kushner's views, outlined in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal published on Sunday, are somewhat surprising given Trump's repeated criticisms of the Iran deal. 

"While many were troubled by the Biden team’s opening offer to work with Europe and rejoin the Iran deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, I saw it as a smart diplomatic move," Kushner wrote. 

 

 

"The Biden administration called Iran’s bluff. It revealed to the Europeans that the JCPOA is dead and only a new framework can bring stability for the future," he said. 

Iran has said it wants sanctions removed as part of an agreement to come to the negotiating table on a new nuclear deal, something U.S. officials have refused. 

Kushner credited Trump with laying the groundwork for an improved relationship between the U.S. and Iran. 

"Mr. Trump has said that Iran has never won a war but never lost a negotiation. This negotiation is high-stakes and, thanks to his policies, America holds a strong hand," he wrote. "Iran is feigning strength, but its economic situation is dire and it has no ability to sustain conflict or survive indefinitely under current sanctions." 

Biden has been under pressure from progressives and lawmakers in his own party to start a new course separate from Trump on Iran.

 

 

“The longer the elements of 'maximum pressure' remain in effect, the more it will continue to embolden hardliners and make U.S.-Iran diplomacy more difficult," more than two dozen progressive groups wrote in a letter to the White House earlier this month. "The recent escalation in military activity between the United States and reported Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq only shows how urgently needed a new course of action is." 

 

Kushner, who worked on a plan to restore diplomatic relations between Israel and several Gulf states and other countries, urged Americans to practice "patience" when it comes to delicate talks with Iran. 

"If the threat from Iran decreases, so can the region’s military budgets. Imagine how many lives could be improved if that money, an outsize share of gross domestic product, were invested in infrastructure, education, small business and impoverished communities," he said. "Following the new road map will prevent the Biden administration from repeating the mistakes of the past and unlock opportunities for U.S. businesses."