TEHRAN(Bazaar) –Marc Finaud, Head of Arms Proliferation at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), says The European Union is continuing to play its important role as a mediator between Iran and the US.
He adds that “This role is recognized in the JCPOA since the EU chairs the Joint Commission established by the agreement.”
“The US has a strategic interest in return to full compliance by Iran to the JCPOA and realizes that artificial deadlines are not helpful to reach this objective,” Finaud told Bazaar News Agency.
Following is the full text of interview.
Bazaar: The Wall Street Journal quoted Western diplomats as saying that the European Union had offered to send Enrique Mora to break the deadlock in the negotiations to revive the JCPOA. What is your assessment of this trip?
Finaud: The European Union is continuing to play its important role as a mediator between Iran and the US. This role is recognized in the JCPOA since the EU chairs the Joint Commission established by the agreement.
Bazaar: According to this newspaper, Mora wants to convince Iran to sign the agreement ‘now’ without removing the IRGC form U.S Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), and Tehran has not yet responded to accepting this trip. Will Tehran agree to this trip and offer?
Finaud: It is difficult to predict the final decision of the Iranian authorities at this stage because of the politically sensitive nature of this issue. However, it would be in Tehran’s interest not to delay the adoption of the new deal further on an issue that is not directly related to the JCPOA.
Bazaar: Does the word ‘now’ mean signing an agreement on nuclear issues and holding separate talks on the IRGC?
Finaud: It was understood from the beginning of the talks on the revival of the JCPOA that the focus would be on Iran’s return to full compliance in exchange for the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions and not on other issues such as ballistic missiles or Iran’s external action. Such issues, as well as sanctions against the IRCG, could eventually be raised later. Trump’s decision to add the IRGC to the list of foreign terrorist organizations was a ploy to make it more difficult for his successor to rejoin the JCPOA. Iran would be wise not to let this artificial issue become an obstacle to the full restoration of the JCPOA.
Bazaar: The newspaper also reported that the current stalemate in the talks could last for months. What does this mean?
Finaud: That is, the parties may fall short of their positions? There is of course a risk of loss of momentum and attention from capitals if the stalemate continues for months.
Bazaar: The United States set a deadline at the beginning of the negotiations, but does not set a deadline now. What is the reason for this?
Finaud: The US has a strategic interest in return to full compliance by Iran to the JCPOA and realizes that artificial deadlines are not helpful to reach this objective.
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