Secret Negotiations | SAIGON GIAI PHONG NEWSPAPER

SGGP 06/22/2023 06:07

Recently, the US and Iran have held secret talks to find solutions to de-escalate tensions in the Gulf region, curb Tehran's nuclear program, and resolve the issue of a number of US citizens being detained in Iran.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei listens to a presentation of a model of a nuclear facility. Photo: Asia News

The move signals a resumption of diplomatic relations between the two sides. Iran and the US have set the goal of recent talks as an informal short-term agreement, rather than waiting for a revival of the 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which has stalled several times.

Mahjoob Zweiri, director of the Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University, said the fact that the two sides were in informal talks showed that President Joe Biden’s administration was unlikely to want to “give Iran any concessions,” especially ahead of next year’s presidential election. Therefore, a short-term deal would be good for both sides and ease the situation.

An interim deal would also not require congressional approval, which would likely be met with strong opposition, especially from Republicans. On the other hand, a deal could help Washington and its European allies refrain from pushing for any further sanctions against Iran. Iran could also hope that the United States would release billions of dollars in frozen assets by using sanctions waivers that stipulate they can only be used for humanitarian purposes.

And if the US agrees to lift a partial freeze on Iran’s economic assets, three Iranian-Americans could also be released. The arrival of Iran’s central bank governor in Doha earlier this week is a sign that Qatar could be involved in facilitating the process.

News of the talks comes amid signs that Washington is satisfied with Iran's current level of uranium enrichment.

The US is demanding that Iran not enrich uranium to a purity of more than 60%, according to the New York Times. Iran has stepped up its nuclear activities since the US withdrew from the JCPOA, arguing that it is not a violation of the deal.

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