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DMEA POLICY & SECURITY DMEA

Tehran ‘drops’ nuclear deal demand

that US take IRGC off terror list

MIDDLE EAST TEHRAN has reportedly dropped its condition would present as soft on the Iranians.
that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Middle East Eye quoted a source as saying
(IRGC) be removed from Washington’s list of that Iran, in a new proposal, dropped the IRGC
foreign terrorist organisations (FTOs) as part of demand, but called for the lifting of sanctions
any agreement on reinstating the 2015 nuclear imposed by the US against Khatam-al Anbiya
deal. Construction Headquarters, an economic arm
It is widely thought that this demand may of the IRGC, and a few other entities.
be the last obstacle that needs overcoming in Another source told the publication that the
order to get the ‘Vienna talks’ restarted for a final US was yet to respond to the offer, which was
negotiating phase that would deliver a path to a seen as a “middle way” solution.
resumption of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Statements from US officials in recent days
Action (JCPOA). have offered no indication that the Biden admin-
Middle East Eye on June 19, citing anon- istration will accept the proposal.
ymous sources, reported the apparent The JCPOA is designed to curb Iran’s nuclear
breakthrough. programme to ensure it stays entirely civilian,
US President Joe Biden is in a difficult posi- with Tehran benefitting from the lifting of eco-
tion when it comes to the presence of the IRGC nomic sanctions in return.
on the FTOs list. Iran is thought by some experts to be only
While there is some sympathy that the FTO weeks away from a nuclear “breakout”, meaning
designation is not meant for state entities – the it would have enough highly enriched uranium
IRGC is the only state entity on the list thanks to for the making of one nuclear bomb.
an unusual April 2019 decision taken by former Weaponising the uranium to make a nuclear
US president Donald Trump – Biden, with the missile might take a few more years, though,
US mid-term elections ahead in November, can hypothetically, a crude nuclear device could be
ill-afford a move that Republican hawks on Iran assembled, analysts say.™

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