Indirect US-Iran Nuclear Deal Talks End Without Major Progress

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] The United States and Iran engaged in indirect talks in Doha, Qatar, to restore the nuclear agreement (JCPOA·Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), but concluded without significant progress.

Enrique Mora, Chief of Staff of the European Union (EU) External Action Service, stated on Twitter on the 29th (local time), "The intensive two-day talks held in Doha to restore the nuclear agreement have concluded," adding, "Unfortunately, the negotiations mediated by the EU team have not yet produced the desired outcome." He added, "We will work more agilely to normalize the core negotiations aimed at nuclear non-proliferation and regional stability."

Earlier, Robert Malley, the U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, and Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, attempted to reconcile differences over the conditions for restoring the nuclear agreement through Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, starting the previous day in Doha.

Iran, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and Germany?six countries?signed the nuclear agreement in 2015, which involved freezing or reducing Iran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions by the U.S., the UN, and the EU. However, in 2018, former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear agreement and reinstated sanctions against Iran. Although restoration talks began after the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration last year, they are currently at an impasse.