Vienna Talks for the Removal of Sanctions

Iran is serious, acts in good faith and considers the practical and tangible result to be the removal of sanctions.

The path travelled

The path taken during six rounds of intensive negotiations in Vienna did not lead to success due to the excessive demands and unrealistic stances on the part of the United States. Now we are starting a new round of talks. The main goal of these negotiations is the restoration of the rights of the Iranian nation and the removal of all sanctions imposed unilaterally and extraterritorially on Iran by the U.S. which is no longer a party to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 159-page agreement with five annexes reached by Iran and the then P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK, and the U.S.) on July 14, 2015. The U.S. pulled out of the JCPOA on May 8, 2018–a move perceived and condemned internationally as unlawful. There is international consensus that these illegitimate U.S. actions demonstrate a total contempt for the international law and the UN Charter, undermine multilateralism, and pose an enormous menace to global peace and security.

Despite the formation of a new U.S. government, not only have the illegal and unilateral sanctions remained in place, but the policy of imposing sanctions on Iran has continued to exist. It is clear that such U.S. measures aim to prevent Iran, together with other JCPOA participants as well as other members of the worldwide community, from enjoying the rights and benefits described in the nuclear deal and the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 which in 2015 outlined an inspection process and schedule in preparation of the removal of UN sanctions against Iran. Regrettably, too, the governments of the three European parties to the JCPOA, despite considering the U.S. approach as illegal and unacceptable, moved to accommodate it in practice with their silence and inaction. The alignment of the three JCPOA European countries with such devastating American actions has rendered the nuclear deal ineffective, eliminating all of the deal’s economic dividends for Iran. These are the bitter realities of the past several years which should illuminate the way forward to the future.

The continuing of Trump’s disastrous approach by the present U.S. administration has raised the serious question of whether the current government is truly determined to implement its obligations and prepared to abandon the failed policies of the past. Answering this question does not appear difficult considering the U.S. approach and measures during the past months.

No one can indeed question Iran’s seriousness and goodwill in fulfilling its obligations in their entirety. After the unlawful U.S. withdrawal and the imposition of sanctions, Iran refrained from executing counteractive measures in good faith, and granting the request of the remaining JCPOA participants and the European Union as the coordinator of the nuclear deal, avoided resorting to the cessation of its commitments under the JCPOA so as to provide the opportunity for other JCPOA participants to compensate for the negative impacts of the American withdrawal. However, given the persistence of this unconstructive state of affairs and after one year of strategic patience, due to the escalation of U.S. sanctions, and non-performance of the obligations of the three European countries, Iran was left with no choice but to enforce its rights as set forth in paragraphs 26 and 36 of the JCPOA and cease, partially and in stages, to perform its obligations as of May 8, 2019.

Witnessing no change in the status quo, in the absence of an effective measure by the relevant JCPOA participants, and given the regrettable history of developments, the parliament of Iran adopted the law of “the strategic action plan to lift sanctions and protect the interests of the Iranian nation” on December 2, 2020. This law obligated the government of Iran to gradually cease the implementation of all its voluntary commitments under the JCPOA unless other parties to the deal fulfill their entire obligations in practice.

Ahead of Vienna talks

The Islamic Republic of Iran, in spite of significant non-performance by the West in the JCPOA, is once again ready to partake in result-oriented negotiations to achieve a “good deal” with the P4+1. The Islamic Republic of Iran has good faith, serious determination, and the necessary will to reach a good deal in Vienna.

Throughout this process, it should never be forgotten that the U.S. remains the main culprit behind the creation of the status quo. In the past four years, the American Government has spared no efforts to crush the nuclear deal, and it was Iran that did all it could to keep the deal alive. What became evident to Iran during the past six rounds of negotiations is that the U.S. still fails to properly understand the fact that there is no way to return to the JCPOA without the verifiable and effective lifting of all sanctions imposed on the Iranian nation following the American departure.

Resolution 2231 calls upon all member states to “take such actions as may be appropriate to support the implementation of the JCPOA, including by taking actions commensurate with the implementation plan set out in the JCPOA and this resolution and by refraining from actions that undermine the implementation of commitments under the JCPOA.”

The main objective of the talks in Vienna should be the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA and the pursuit of the goal of normalization of trade relations and economic cooperation with Iran. It goes without saying that in order to return to the JCPOA, Iran should benefit fully from the lifting of all sanctions. Iran is prepared to cease application of all its remedial measures if guarantees are provided, damages are assessed, and all sanctions are effectively and verifiably lifted.

The likely return of the U.S. to the nuclear deal would not be meaningful unless guarantees are presented to prevent the recurrence of the bitter experiences of the past and Iran’s trade partners can confidently enter into a long-term economic engagement with Iran free from concerns.

What is clear in the forthcoming negotiations is that Iran will not accept any requests beyond the JCPOA. Iran will not enter into any discussion whatsoever about issues beyond the nuclear deal.

I would like to emphasize once again that this opportunity is not a window that can forever remain open and the U.S. plus the three European countries must well understand this. The Islamic Republic of Iran, while making determined, strong and active diplomatic efforts to remove the oppressive American sanctions, has devised an effective program to neutralize the sanctions in line with its sustainable economic development program.

Without doubt, Tehran remains as committed to maintaining and safeguarding the achievements of its nuclear scientists and peaceful nuclear industry as it remains obliged to non-diversion from its peaceful nuclear program, and will not abandon its comprehensive development in the industry, trade, maritime, space, defense, science, and technology sectors, nor will it curtail its increasing economic development.

A deal is potentially on the table if all other parties demonstrate political will in practice.

Despite the unfulfilled promises of the West and a distrust towards the unconstructive approach and policies of the White House, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make every effort “with true determination” and “in good faith” during the Vienna negotiations to achieve a “good, sustainable and effectively verifiable” deal for the lifting of sanctions. The Iranian nuclear negotiating team is engaging actively and earnestly in the Vienna negotiations, pursuing a negotiation logic which secures the interests and rights of the Iranian nation. My colleagues and I fully support the negotiating team as well as the chief negotiator, Baqeri Kani, who has extensive experience in the field. I will engage in further consultation with my counterparts if necessary.

The author is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran.