On Wednesday, Bob Menendez, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned that Iran cannot be allowed to threaten the U.S. with a bad deal or a transitional agreement that would enable it to continue building its nuclear capabilities. Menendez cautioned that "Iran is on the verge of having enough material to make a nuclear weapon." He urged the Biden administration and Washington's international partners to "exert more pressure on Iran to counter its nuclear program, missile program, and its destabilizing behavior throughout the Middle East, including attacks on U.S. personnel and assets."
A senior U.S. State Department official stated yesterday that indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran regarding a return to the 2015 nuclear agreement have entered the "final phase" within weeks, requiring all parties to make tough political decisions. The official, who spoke to reporters via telephone during a pause in talks in Vienna, noted that Iran might choose not to pursue compliance with the agreement, and that Washington is prepared to deal with this possibility.
Biden administration officials indicated yesterday that the U.S. and its European allies are close to restoring the old nuclear deal that limited Iran's nuclear program. The potential deal would include a mutual release of American prisoners but would not address Iran's ballistic missile program, the Iranian militias, or Tehran's destabilizing behavior, according to the New York Times.
The report added that it is now up to Khamenei in Tehran to decide whether the regime is willing to dismantle much of its nuclear production equipment in exchange for sanctions relief. Administration officials warned that it is unclear whether a final agreement will be reached, and for Iran, this decision will ultimately rest with the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
While some remain highly skeptical that Iran will ultimately agree to the terms currently being discussed, a State Department official stated, "We can see a path to a deal if these decisions are made." Another senior administration official also mentioned that the talks have reached a decision-making stage, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations.
For President Biden, restoring the deal—and with it, restrictions on Iran's production capacity—would fulfill a campaign promise and close a breach created by former President Donald Trump, but it also comes with significant political risks. No Republican voted for the deal in 2015, and its restoration is likely to become an electoral issue in the midterm elections.
