Under the title "Iran Delays... Diplomat Suggests Betting on Western Concessions," Al Arabiya's website reported that for weeks, Tehran, which has confirmed multiple times its intention to return to the negotiating table to continue discussions on reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement, has been stalling. Several high-ranking Iranian officials, from the president to the foreign minister, have affirmed the country’s intention to return to the Vienna negotiations, but this "goodwill" announcement has not been translated into action on the ground, and Tehran has not set a date for its return, leaving the timeline "ambiguous."
In this context, a senior Western diplomat, speaking to Politico on the condition of anonymity, suggested that Tehran would likely not return to the negotiations until it receives certain concessions. The diplomat stated, "Iran is definitely playing with the factor of time while simultaneously enhancing its nuclear program to strengthen its position in negotiations and gain political leverage." He added, "Iran is unlikely to return to the Vienna negotiating table unless the West shows goodwill or offers some concessions."
Additionally, he noted that officials from Ibrahim Raisi's government "confirm that they will resume negotiations soon to revive the nuclear agreement, but in practice, they have taken a different approach."
According to the diplomat, Iran's assessment is likely that the United States is in a "weak" position following recent developments in Afghanistan and disputes with France, suggesting that such thoughts lead Iranian authorities to adopt a tougher stance in negotiations. Several diplomats confirmed to Politico that Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held over 50 bilateral meetings with international officials during his visit to New York last week, yet nothing was revealed regarding the resumption of nuclear talks.
It is worth mentioning that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed yesterday that the ball is now in Iran's court, but this won't last long, indicating that the resumption of stalled talks since June in Vienna now depends on Tehran. This statement came after the Iranian foreign ministry repeatedly announced, through its foreign minister and spokesman, that nuclear negotiations would resume soon or within weeks, without specifying that timeline!
Negotiations in Vienna began on April 6, after 77 days following Joe Biden's assumption of the presidency on January 20, and six rounds were held without reaching an agreement on some contentious issues before they were halted in June (2021).
