Harsh assessment from senior US State Dept official about new Iranian government approach at last round of Vienna talks. What we have seen over the last week is getting ready for them meant advancing their nuclear program in intentionally provocative ways, stonewalling IAEA 1/
while coming back with an unserious proposal that tried to walk back the compromises floated by Iran in previous rounds of talks, pocket the potential compromises by others, and ask for more.
The official would not speak for Russia and China but said it is fair to say they were quite taken aback as well by the degree to which Iran walked back on its own compromises and doubled down on new requests. He said not just US/E3 but whole P5+1 was disappointed by the Iranians
Still a chance for Iran to show more seriousness if/when talks resume and senior State Dept official clear that is US preference, but it sounds like full-fledged pivot underway that does not think Iran seriously prepared to return to JCPOA.
Asked about what was in the Iranian proposals, the SSDO said we have made it a principle not to get into the details of the negotations. Suffice it to say...I will repeat, what said earlier, the days we were in Vienna, Iran did not show seriousness.
SSDO: It did not show the posture of a country that is seriously thinking of a rapid return to mutual compliance. I think that was evident to everyone. (need to check exact wording on next part, check transcript) preparing for a world in which no return to jcpoa
Believe the Senior State Dept official suggested a couple times he would be meeting/conversing with the Israelis this week. He said Sec Blinken and Israel PM Bennett had a very good call last week and will again this week be having these conversations with that context in mind
correct language here: 👉🏼
https://twitter.com/BBCKasraNaji/status/1467190882323603464
transcript of the call 👉🏼 state.gov/briefing-with-…
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