Vienna is the centre of attention as Israel fears new deal with Iran
Since the United States abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), tensions with Iran have only increased. This action, orchestrated by then president Donald Trump, was followed by a large number of actions - such as Iran's enrichment of uranium - that have led to a very complex situation and for which they must now sit down to negotiate and bring positions closer together in order to reach an agreement. So far, however, neither side has shown the slightest intention of giving in. Neither Iran respects the agreement signed in 2015, nor has the United States lifted the sanctions imposed.
"They are on the right track", is the message sent by the Iranian government regarding the start of talks with the rest of the signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Although it also wanted to be cautious and not take any kind of agreement for granted, since the contacts have only just begun and there is still a long way to go: "progress has been made, but this does not mean that disputes have been resolved", said the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Said Jatib Zadé. He wanted to make clear why they are meeting in Vienna - from the Iranian point of view, which may vary quite a bit from reality, all things considered - and that is "for the removal of US sanctions and the return of the United States to its obligations under the nuclear deal", leaving aside the activities being carried out by his country which, of course, the Americans want to curb.
The EU's role as a mediator between the parties in these negotiations seems essential. Brussels is extremely concerned about reaching a new agreement and, above all, one that could have a significant future impact. They consider a return to the JCPOA or, failing that, the creation of a new treaty to be a fundamental step towards global stability. For this reason, Enrique Mora, 'number two' of the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, is present at the dialogue table and is coordinating the talks. For his part, Borrell himself has intensified contacts with Washington in recent days to speed up the talks.
Iran has already announced the withdrawal of its commitments on several points of the agreement, which has provoked fears among the rest of the signatories of a possible collapse of the pact that is being forged these days in Vienna. However, Tehran maintains that, if the United States withdraws the sanctions, it will have no problem returning to the path set out in the 2015 agreement, while Joe Biden's side is demanding that it is they who cease uranium enrichment, such as that of the last batch enriched to 60%, in order to then withdraw the sanctions and return to the JCPOA. In other words, on this side, both countries are asking the other to take the first step and the blockade remains in place.
It is precisely this blockade that could benefit certain countries. Israel fears that its US ally will reach an agreement with Iran, as it would not represent any progress compared to the moment when it left the agreement in 2018. That is why the Israelis have opted for diplomatic pressure, sending national security adviser Meir Ben Sabbat, Armed Forces chief General Avi Kochavi and Mossad director Yossi Cohen to the US capital next week to meet with their US counterparts. Their position as mere spectators in these negotiations worries the Israeli government, which does not look favourably on an agreement that, much to their regret, they believe will soon come to fruition.
One of the reasons why Iran is trying to speed up these negotiations is the call for elections to be held in Tehran next June. Reaching an agreement before the elections are held would boost the current government's chances for re-election. Contacts are expected to continue over the next few days with a view to achieving the goal of re-establishing stability among the countries of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, but also that of the whole world, which has been watching everything that has been happening over the last few days in Vienna with a sidelong glance.
