Link to article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/29/iran-and-world-powers-begin-vienna-talks-to-restore-nuclear-deal
Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the UK met and resumed long-awaited talks in Vienna to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, created due to years of tension over Iran’s development of nuclear weapons. As the United States left the deal three years ago, the messages of the meetings were relayed to US representatives because Iran now refuses to hold direct talks since the US is no longer a member of the accord. Iran emphasised to the participants in the meeting that they are serious about reaching a “fair agreement” while also securing Iran’s national interests. The talks are beginning again after pausing in June for Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi to form his new administration. Iran negotiator has said that with the United States current position the talks will likely have no concrete outcome. Several different meetings took place between different countries and, if successful, they will lift US sanctions while reducing Iran’s nuclear capacity, however, success is unlikely. The United States has imposed sanctions since 2018 and backing out of the accord has given Iran a large reason to distrust them to keep their commitments in the future. The United States has said they are willing to release sanctions that do not align with the JCPOA, however they say they will keep some human rights, terrorism and Trump-imposed sanctions while Iran states that the United States should come to the talks but with the intent of lifting all sanctions. Iran says they are not seeking nuclear weapons, however, they have left the rest of the world to question the rapid increase of their nuclear initiative through the production of uranium.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action(JCPOA), created in 2015 with the five permanent members of the security council plus Germany and the EU, was aimed to control Iran’s nuclear capabilities while also lifting some sanctions. The deal has now fizzled out due to the Trump Administration leaving the deal and imposing sanctions along with Iran’s increase in nuclear capabilities. Although the United States shows interest in this deal, they will likely not sacrifice morals and ethics by lifting the human rights and “terrorism” sanctions on Iran. Also, with Iran’s non compliance to the deal made in 2015, the United States receding their support and commitment previously, and the UK and Israel opposing the nuclear deal saying they are worried that world powers will remove sanctions, there is a small chance that either side will see a real change. Despite the United States involvement, the talks have been said to be going well, however I don’t foresee any real outcomes with the history of this agreement.
Cooperation between the United States and Iran is nearly impossible. Human rights and combating terrorism are pillars of America and the sanctions, being a safe and effective way to make a country corporate, will likely not be completely dissolved. In the realist view, sanctions are a necessary measure to police and control countries actions and it is the responsibility of the top power(s) to enforce this. With the power that the United States has and the actions of Iran, sanctions are the only way to punish their doings as, in the realist perspective, there is no greater force above state level to police. On the other hand, in the liberal perspective, agreements and cooperation between states, like the JCPOA is necessary for the greater good.