US-European Joint Statement: Concerns over Iran's "Provocative" Nuclear Steps
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A joint statement by the US, UK, France, and Germany says that Iran's progress in the nuclear program undermines the possibility of returning to a deal.
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A meeting on the JCPOA on the sidelines of the G20 in Rome
The US, UK, France, and Germany released a joint statement, on Saturday, expressing their "grave and growing concerns" of Iran's "provocative nuclear steps."
The statement, which was released after a meeting held on the sidelines of Rome's G20 Summit, read "continued Iranian nuclear advances and obstacles to the IAEA’s work will jeopardize the possibility of a return to the JCPOA."
The leaders said they were determined “to ensure that Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon," claiming that the most provocative step was Iran's diminished cooperation and transparency with the IAEA.
"We are convinced that it is possible to quickly reach and implement an understanding on return to full compliance and to ensure for the long term that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes," the statement read.
The E3 and the US called upon Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to return to a "good faith effort to conclude our negotiations." They believe this is the only way to "avoid a dangerous escalation, which is not in any country's interest."
Gulf Efforts
The statement also welcomed efforts by Gulf partners to ease tensions, thereby allowing the strengthening of regional partnerships and the diminishing of the dangers of a nuclear crisis that can hinder regional diplomacy.
The statement also confirmed that the US and the E3 are committed to working closely with Russia, China, and the EU High Representative to resolve the issue.
Official sources had reported the Iranian Foreign Ministry as saying that the new US sanctions imposed on Iran's military drone program contradict Washington's claims that it is seeking to return to the nuclear agreement.
A date for the Vienna Talks?
EU Spokesperson Peter Stano said on Friday that there are attempts between Iran and other JCPOA signatories to fix a concrete date as early as possible to reconvene in Vienna.
Also on Friday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Ali Bagheri Kani, said that Tehran strives to achieve tangible results for the Iranian people in the new Vienna Talks to lift the unjust sanctions, stressing that Russia and China also support negotiations that can yield tangible results.
Six rounds of talks were held in Vienna between Iran and the P4+1 to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, which former US President Donald Trump withdrew from 3 years ago, restoring sanctions on Iran.
The talks took place between April and June, in an attempt to revive the nuclear agreement, but stopped shortly before the Iranian elections and are set to resume soon.
