These steps can be described as an “understanding” rather than an agreement that requires consideration by the US Congress, where many oppose giving benefits to Iran because of its military assistance to Russia, its actions repressive forces in the country and its support for proxies attacking American interests. In the region.
And after failing to revive the Iran nuclear deal reached in 2015, Washington hopes to restore some restrictions on Iran to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon that could threaten Israel and trigger an arms race in the region. Tehran says it does not aspire to develop a nuclear weapon.
The 2015 deal, which then-US President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018, ended Tehran’s enrichment of uranium to 3.67% purity and its stockpile of the material to 202.8 kilograms, limits Tehran has since exceeded.
US and European officials have sought ways to curb Tehran’s nuclear efforts since the breakdown of US-Iranian proxy talks. The desire to resume talks illustrates the growing sense in Western capitals of the need to address Iran’s agenda.
The US government is denying reports that it is seeking an interim deal, using its carefully crafted refusal to leave open the possibility of a less formal “deal” that could avoid congressional scrutiny.
State Department spokesman Matt Miller denied any deal with Iran.
However, he said Washington wanted Tehran to deescalate tensions, curb its nuclear program, stop supporting regional groups carrying out proxy attacks, stop supporting Russia’s war on Ukraine and release detained US citizens.
“We continue to use diplomatic means of communication to achieve all these objectives,” he added, without going into details.
“Call it what you want, whether it’s an interim agreement, an interim agreement or a joint agreement,” an Iranian official said. “Both sides want to prevent further escalation.”
Initially, he said, “this will include a prisoner exchange and the release of some of the frozen Iranian assets.”
He said other measures could include exemptions from Iran-linked U.S. sanctions for exporting oil in exchange for halting 60% uranium enrichment and greater Iranian cooperation. with the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency.
Calm
“I would call it a calming understanding,” said a Western official, who requested anonymity, adding that there were more than one round of indirect talks in Oman between US National Security Council official Brett McGurk. and Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani.
US special envoy for Iran Rob Malley also met with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, after months of Iran’s refusal to communicate directly.
The Western official said the idea was to create a status quo acceptable to all, to get Iran to avoid the Western red line of 90% purity enrichment, which is generally considered a weapon, and can – even to “stop” its enrichment. at 60 percent.
In addition to the 60% threshold, the official said, the two sides are discussing greater Iranian cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the non-installation of more advanced centrifuges in return for a ” large transfer” of Iranian funds held abroad.
The official did not say whether the halt meant that Iran would commit not to enrich itself above 60%, or that it would stop enriching itself at the same 60%.
Avoid an Iranian-Israeli confrontation
The order of the steps and their connection to the release of 3 US citizens held by Iran were also unclear. Officials said earlier their release could be linked to the release of frozen funds.
A spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday the two countries could soon swap prisoners if Washington shows goodwill, adding that talks are being held through mediators, without giving further details. Iran’s mission to the United Nations has yet to respond to a request for detailed comment.
The Western official said that the main objective of the United States was to prevent the deterioration of the situation at the nuclear level and to avoid a possible confrontation between Israel and Iran.
“If the Iranians get the math wrong, the possibility of a strong Israeli response is something we want to avoid,” he said.
US officials appear to avoid saying they seek a “deal” because of a 2015 law that requires Congress to obtain the text of any agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, opening up the possibility for lawmakers to review it and possibly to vote for it.
Michael McCaul, chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, a Republican, wrote to President Joe Biden on Thursday saying that “any deal or understanding with Iran, even if informal , requires that it be submitted to Congress”.
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