Link to article:https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/4/where-does-iran-nuclear-deal-stand-after-seven-rounds-of-talks
All countries in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agree to restore the deal, but Iran and the Western definitions of a good deal are very different. The seventh round of talks took place in Vienna on Friday. The documents presented by Iran had a maximalist stance and differed from the previously agreed upon issues with the former president Hassan Rouhani. Senior European diplomats are disappointed and worried about the changes suggested by Iran. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Iran doesn’t seem to be serious about restoring the deal and that they will not allow Iran to carry through with negotiations while their nuclear plan is unclear. Meanwhile, the Russian Chief negotiator, Mikhail Ulyanov, is still hopeful of change. Iran’s chief negotiator responded to Europeans disappointment by stating that the documents presented are based on the 2015 proposals, so the current proposals can’t be rejected, and they aren’t going to propose things that don’t align with their views.
I am unsure how this deal will pan out, especially with the continuous nuclear enrichment activities. I hope they can reach an agreement with Iran clarifying and slowing down their nuclear plan. Although with the Iranian president, Abraham Raisi, and his hardline approach, I don’t think they will slow nuclear advancements enough for sanctions to be lifted. The Iranian chief negotiator said, “we are not going to offer proposals that are in line with your views. We say things consistent with our own views and interests.” This statement furthers my hesitation because an agreement isn’t one-sided, and Iran feels strongly about proposing the deal on their terms. Iran will have to sacrifice some of its interests to lift the sanctions.
Iran’s nuclear development is a way for them to gain power. From the realist viewpoint, power is most important because you have leverage over other states. From other countries’ perspectives, their advancements in their nuclear program are a threat to international security, so dominance must be used to stop the advancements. Dominance can be militaristic, such as how Israel said they might intervene or through sanctions that have already been imposed on Iran for a long time. Talks of lifting the sanctions by establishing an agreement is a liberal approach. Although the agreement and reciprocity will not work without Iran sacrificing some of their interests to meet in a middle ground.