The nuclear agreement deadline: a diplomatic pressure card or a strong threat to Iran?

In his speech to the program Beyond the News (9/02/2022), he believed that the delegation was not convinced of the ability to reach an agreement in the next few period, which reflected the prevailing optimism formula through tweets and circulated statements.

This came after local media reported, quoting sources in the US administration, that the administration of US President Joe Biden believed that it had a deadline until the end of February to save the Iranian nuclear agreement, a day after the resumption of the eighth round of Vienna negotiations.

In this regard, Cirincione stated that there are divisions within the US delegation, as there are influential figures in the US administration who refuse to make any concessions to the Iranian side, believing that the sanctions imposed on Tehran are enough to subdue it, and therefore they are preparing for the failure of these negotiations and are preparing to impose more sanctions and isolate Iran.

He also pointed out that the US team believes that the end of this month is the longest period of time that can be adhered to, otherwise it will seriously consider withdrawing from the negotiations and considering the nuclear agreement dead.

pressure tool

However, Professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Tehran, Ahmad Hassan Hamdian, refuted Cirincione’s proposal, saying that the Iranians view the statements regarding the time period available to them as only tools of pressure against them, and therefore they do not find much resonance with officials at the highest levels of Iran, and there is no response to those statements.

He pointed out that to the extent of the division on the American side, there is a kind of clear consensus on the Iranian side regarding dealing with America, considering that Iran considers America an unstable and unreliable party, and therefore there is a continuous demand for guarantees to ensure the future adherence to the nuclear agreement.

He explained that the Iranian side has a major pressure tool represented in the nuclear program, which continues to enrich at a high rate, and activates advanced pressure devices during the continuation of US sanctions.

It is reported that CNN said that if the agreement is not saved by the end of February, the United States will have to change course and take tough steps to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.