The Iran nuclear deal, abandoned by the Trump administration, is being restored by the new President-elect of the US, Joe Biden. It can be marked as the first substantial diplomacy with Tehran in more than four years.
The Controversy
The signs of easing tensions are appearing as the Biden administration is willing to meet Iran to discuss a “diplomatic way forward”. On Thursday, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement, “The United States would accept an invitation from the European Union High Representative to attend a meeting of the P5 1 and Iran to discuss a diplomatic way forward on Iran’s nuclear program,”. Here, P5 1 indicates the participants in the nuclear deal with Iran, which includes China, Russia, France, the UK, the US and Germany. The offer made by the United States was aimed at restoring a diplomatic pathway with Iran.
Following this, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, quickly denounced the steps, saying “It is concerning the Biden Administration is already making concessions in an apparent attempt to re-enter the flawed Iran deal. The Trump Administration created leverage for President Biden on Iran – we should not squander that progress.”
Prior to this, Blinken and his European counterparts have made it clear that Iran should permit continued United Nations nuclear inspections and put an end to nuclear activities that seemingly have no credible civilian use. This in turn might adversely affect Iran’s economy.
Even, Heiko Maas, the German Foreign Minister, who took part in the talks Thursday in Paris exclaimed that Iran is “playing with fire”.
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