Page 6 - IRANRptDec21

2.0 Politics
2.1 Blinken ‘may judge in a day or so if Iran is engaging
in nuclear deal talks in good faith’
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on December 2 that he could judge in a day or so if Iran was engaging in the resumed Vienna nuclear deal talks in good faith.
"I have to tell you, recent moves, recent rhetoric, don't give us a lot of cause for ... optimism," Reuters reported Blinken as also saying in a reference to the prospects of finding a pathway to relaunching the nuclear deal, or JCPOA, with an agreement leading to restored Iranian and American participation.
Blinken made the comments in Stockholm after Iran provided the European powers—who as intermediaries are shuttling between US and Iranian officials in Vienna—with drafts on sanctions removal and nuclear commitments.
Blinken’s lack of optimism was matched by pessimistic remarks from Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian. "We went to Vienna with serious determination, but we are not optimistic about the will and the intention ofthe United States and the three European parties to the deal," he was quoted by Iranian media as saying in a telephone conversation with his Japanese .counterpart
While Blinken said "it is not too late for Iran to reverse course and engage meaningfully," Reuters reported that it appeared as if both sides might be seeking to avoid the blame if the talks break down.
The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated on December 1 that Iran had started producing enriched uranium with advanced centrifuges at its Fordow plant dug into a mountain, further eroding the worth of the nuclear deal, drawn up to ensure Iran’s nuclear development programme is kept entirely peaceful in return for the lifting of sanctions on Tehran.
The IAEA announcement prompted Israel to call on world powers—Iran is directly negotiating with JCPOA signatories France, Germany, the UK, China and Russia and indirectly with the US via intermediaries—to stop the Vienna talks immediately.
6 IRAN Country Report December 2021 www.intellinews.com