Talks on restarting the Iran nuclear deal were held in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday. The Chinese and Russian governments appear to be taking a leading role in the negotiations. On Friday (9), at the end of this week’s talks, representatives of the Chinese Communist Party and Russia expressed optimism about the talks. Notably, there were no U.S. representatives on the invitation list for the meeting.
The Biden administration said it would hold “indirect” talks with Iran and sent U.S. Iran envoy Robert Malley to Vienna. But Iranian officials clarified on Tuesday that there would be no negotiations between Iranian and U.S. representatives and that no direct or other talks of any kind would take place this week.
Malley is staying at a hotel in Vienna, meeting with officials who have no connection to the talks, such as Austrian government officials and representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Without Washington’s involvement, Iran has used the talks to publicly and repeatedly insist that it will not begin discussions with the United States about returning to compliance with the nuclear deal unless the Biden administration immediately lifts all sanctions against Iran, not just those related to nuclear weapons issues.
A Russian representative to the International Atomic Energy Organization tweeted Friday that it was very satisfied with the initial progress in the talks, which will continue next week to keep the positive momentum going.
According to Reuters, Chinese Communist Party ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Organization Wang Qun echoed the Russian representative’s sentiments, “All sides have narrowed their differences and we do see the momentum of a gradual consensus.”
Both China and Russia have spoken out against unilateral sanctions against the country, and in particular against U.S. sanctions against Russia and China’s ally Iran. “The United States should lift all sanctions against Tehran, on the basis of which Iran can return to full compliance with the nuclear deal,” Wang Qun said during Tuesday’s talks. U.S. officials said they were being “briefed” on the talks, Reuters reported, but did not elaborate.
A day before Moscow and Beijing announced “progress” in the talks, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made clear that he has no desire to negotiate with the United States.
Iranian Press TV reported that Khamenei said Tehran has no right to set conditions for Tehran as long as the other signatories to the deal do not fulfill their obligations, and that Tehran will not budge, stressing that this is Iran’s clear policy.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry also took the opportunity Thursday to boast of its increased uranium enrichment capacity. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi claimed that enrichment activities in violation of the nuclear deal would continue until all U.S. sanctions against Iran are lifted.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said Thursday he expects Malhi to return to Washington by the end of the week.
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