Although the size of the temple was reduced, tensions in the international community were relieved
Negotiations between the two countries to free Iranian detained Americans also begin
Biden’s’economic sanctions’ could be lifted to speed up relations restoration
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Iran has decided to extend the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) nuclear inspections in its country by three months. The talks between the two sides to free five Americans detained in Iran are reported to have begun here, and the international community’s expectations for the restoration of the nuclear agreement are growing.
According to Reuters on the 21st (local time), IAEA Secretary-General Rafael Grossey returned to Vienna airport after visiting Iran at the end of last week and said, “Even if Iran stops implementing the IAEA Additional Protocol, it will be able to maintain the necessary inspection and verification work for three months.” Said to the reporters. However, he added that access to nuclear facilities may be less than before. Discussions between the two sides of the five Americans detained in Iran have also begun. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in an interview with CBS on the same day that “we are starting to communicate with Iran on this issue.”
The tensions in the international community over Iran’s nuclear weapons are gradually easing due to Iran’s subsequent signs of appeasement. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Jarif reiterated the previous position saying, “Until the US withdraws all sanctions, we will not be able to return to the nuclear agreement”, but experts interpreted this as a move to increase bargaining power before sitting at the table. have.
The background of the analysis that Iran has no choice but to return to dialogue is the US economic sanctions against Iran. In 2018, former U.S. President Donald Trump broke the nuclear agreement and restored sanctions such as Iran’s ban on oil exports and the removal of Iran from the U.S. financial network.In the aftermath, Iran’s annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate in both 2018-2019 Stayed in the -6% range. U.S. sanctions have also affected the securing of a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine. Due to US sanctions, pharmaceutical companies that developed the COVID-19 vaccine were reluctant to deal with Iran, and had difficulty obtaining a vaccine quickly. In fact, in November last year, the Iranian Ministry of Health complained that it was trying to secure a vaccine through COVAX, but was delayed due to US sanctions.
The United States is also sending a signal to Iran for dialogue. On the 18th, Secretary of State Tony Blincoln said that if Iran agrees to a nuclear agreement, the United States will take corresponding measures, saying, “We are ready to participate in discussions for this purpose with Iran.” Foreign policy media, Foreign Policy (FP), said that the US has sent a signal that it can start dialogue with Iran, and that Iran has stepped back in a tough position to take action first. The United States seems to have calculated that it is better to restore the nuclear agreement in order to quickly gain confidence in Europe and before the hard-liners after the Iranian presidential election in June.
There is also a prospect that the United States may lift sanctions against Iran and send a stronger dialogue signal. Politico, a political media outlet, predicted that the United States could use one of the following: △Resume Iran’s oil exports, △Support Iran through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) △Freeze funds part release card. In particular, the option of’resuming crude oil exports’ is highly predicted. This is because Iran continues to export crude oil by bypassing the official channel even amid sanctions, and the sanctions effect is not significant anyway. In particular, Bloomberg News reported that Iran will attend the Joint Ministerial Oversight Committee (JMMC) of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries + (OPEC+), where oil-producing countries participating in the production cuts are gathered next month, according to an analysis that Iran’s oil exports are imminent.
The problem is the time point. President Joe Biden is avoiding friction with the Republicans to pass a massive economic stimulus package worth $1.9 trillion (about 2,100 trillion won). The FP said President Biden was concerned that the Republican Party could rebel against Iran, saying, “The United States has made unilateral concessions to Iran,” and said President Biden’s political skills were put to the test.
/ Reporter Kwak Yoon-ah [email protected]
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