After weeks of tension, the last two days witnessed a major breakthrough in the Iranian nuclear file crisis, as Tehran and Western capitals exchanged positive messages suggesting the near settlement of the dispute through diplomatic frameworks.
Although it has stressed more than once that it will not return to renewed negotiations over the nuclear issue, Tehran recently appeared ready to enter into talks with the parties to the nuclear agreement signed in 2015.
Amid the atmosphere of optimism, caution prevails over the strategy of US President Joe Biden, and it seems as if he introduces a man and delays another, as he allows the sanctions to be practically reduced and officially renewed at the same time.
The following are the most prominent developments in the Iranian nuclear file in recent hours:
A new year of sanctions
US President Joe Biden extended the implementation of the National Emergency Law on Sanctions Against Iran, passed in 1995, for another year.
Biden said Friday, "The actions and policies of the Iranian government continue to pose an exceptional threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States."
He added that for this reason, the decision was taken to extend the National Emergency Law, which was issued on March 15, 1995, in the era of former President Bill Clinton.
Biden and addressed a memorandum in this regard to Congress, according to the official website of the White House.
America wants dialogue
State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the United States is ready to accept the European Union's invitation to start a diplomatic path with Iran within the framework of the 5 + 1 group.
In statements during his regular meeting with the media, Price added that the start of the dialogue is necessary in order to achieve a joint return to the nuclear agreement.
"We have expressed our readiness to accept an invitation from the European Union to start direct diplomacy with Iran within the framework of the 5 + 1 group. These issues must be dealt with if we want to achieve progress towards a joint return to the nuclear deal," he said.
Ireland's Foreign Minister meets Rouhani
Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney is scheduled to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on Sunday, as the UN Security Council coordinator for the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and the major countries.
"Ireland is a strong supporter of the JCPOA. Through our role as coordinator, Ireland is keen to maintain a close dialogue with all actors and encourage all parties to return to full compliance with the agreement," Coveney said in a statement.
An Iranian action plan awaits
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that he will soon present a "constructive" action plan on the nuclear deal.
Tehran is supposed to present the said action plan "through the appropriate diplomatic channels," according to Zarif's tweet.
The Iranian foreign minister added, "It is necessary to implement the nuclear obligations before any nuclear meetings."
Zarif's comments came apparently in response to an interview of the Secretary of the Expediency Council in Iran, Mohsen Rezaei, with the British Financial Times, in which he said that his country will return to negotiations if Washington and European countries provide guarantees to lift sanctions on Iran within a year.
"The Iranian political system is vital and effective, and officials express their diverse opinions, but these views should not be confused with state policy. As the Iranian foreign minister and chief nuclear negotiator, I will soon present our constructive and accurate action plan through appropriate diplomatic channels," Zarif said.
In the same context, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said that Rezaei’s statements do not reflect Tehran's official positions.
These statements come amid signs of stopping the escalation in the nuclear file, as Britain, France and Germany, with the support of the United States, withdrew a draft resolution condemning Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency to suspend its work with the Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Iran assets in Iraq
On the other hand, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, the economic advisor to the Iraqi prime minister, told Al-Jazeera that the American side allowed Iran to use part of its funds frozen in Iraq for humanitarian and civil purposes.
Saleh explained that Iran has money in Iraq that is the price of what it exports to it in terms of gas and electricity, and added that these rights are known to all parties, including the American side.
Government sources denied the release of the Iranian funds frozen in the Central Bank of Iraq, but said that the Americans may release part of those funds for the purpose of purchasing medicines for Iran via Iraq.
The sources indicated that Iraq could contract with international companies in order to buy medicines for Iran in light of the US sanctions, but it was likely that Tehran would not agree.