Vienna talks on Iran at crossroads
March 7, 2022 by M. K. BHADRAKUMAR - Indian Punchline
▻https://www.indianpunchline.com/vienna-talks-on-iran-at-crossroads
Coincidentally, it was on March 5 that Russia projected its latest demand for sanctions waiver in a written guarantee “at least” from President Joe Biden or at the very minimum from Secretary of State Antony Blinken in regard of its ambitious economic, scientific-technological and military collaboration in the pipeline with Iran. March 5 also happens to be the anniversary of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The fate of the NPT may now hinge on the US response. For, if the Biden administration rides the high horse, that will almost certainly be a deal-breaker for the current negotiations at Vienna on the US’ return to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA).
On the other hand, a golden opportunity is now at hand for Iran too to hang tough on its remaining demands — that is, demand for the lifting of the US designation of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation; firm guarantee that a future US government will not (again) renege on the nuclear deal; and, that the file regarding International Atomic Energy Agency’s case about Tehran’s nuclear work should be conclusively closed. Russia is firmly supportive of Iran’s demands. (...)