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| White House spokesman Jen Saki. © Reuters = News 1 |
The US announced on the 14th (local time) that indirect discussions with Iran will resume in connection with the talks between the parties being held in Vienna, Austria for the return of the nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran.
Since last week, the US has held indirect discussions with Iran through a delegation of the European Union (EU) without directly participating in the negotiations on the return of the nuclear agreement in Vienna.
However, the second week of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran became uncertain as Iran decided to enrich uranium to a concentration of 60% following the explosion at the Iranian nuclear facility in Natanz on the 11th.
White House spokesman Jen Saki, according to Reuters, said, “There is no further speculation to be made on the cause or origin of the attack during the weekend.” I’m seeing it as” he emphasized.
“I know Iran is planning to attend tomorrow,” said Saki. “We are also conscious of how this will be a long-term process. It’s happening through indirect negotiations, but I think it’s still progress.”
An anonymous US official said that Iranian envoy Rob Marley, who leads the US delegation, will visit Vienna on the 15th to participate in the talks.
In the meantime, an analysis by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found that Iran is almost ready to begin producing 60% pure enriched uranium.
In a statement, the IAEA said, “It has been confirmed that Iran is almost ready to begin production of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) enriched to 60% at the Natanz Nuclear Fuel Enrichment Facility (PFEP).”
The IAEA also added that Iran has informed Secretary General Rafael Mariano Grossie that Iran will have a total of 1024 centrifuges by adding six IR-1 centrifuge cascades.
In 2015, Iran signed a Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement with the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and China on condition that the international community lifts economic sanctions instead of giving up nuclear development. At the heart of the agreement was to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons in exchange for sanctions easing.
However, when former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally declared the breach of the nuclear agreement in 2018, Iran has gradually reduced the scope of its provisions since May 2019.
The Biden administration, which was launched in January, has indicated that it is willing to re-engage in the nuclear agreement. The U.S. adheres to the position that Iran must first strictly comply with the nuclear agreement to withdraw sanctions, while Iran is demanding that the United States take the first step by lifting the sanctions.
Iran’s nuclear agreement limits the enrichment rate of uranium to 3.67%, but Iran’s announcement that it will enrich uranium at a concentration close to 90%, which is considered a weapon-grade, has raised opposition from the international community including Israel.