TEHRAN (Bazaar) –Nader Entessar, Professor Emeritus of Political Science from university of South Alabama says that Biden administration has on several occasions stated that supporting protests in Iran and not the JCPOA is its focus in Washington's Iran policy.
“Washington still has no coherent policy towards Iran or the JCPOA,” Entessar told Bazaar.
Following is the full text of the Bazaar interview with Professor Entessar:
Q: The American ambassador to the United Nations has stated that the JCPOA issue has nothing to do with Iran's protests. What is your assessment of these words?
A: Technically, the US ambassador to the UN is correct because the JCPOA deals with a set of issues that are not germane to the current domestic protests in Iran. However, the Biden administration has on several occasions stated that supporting protests in Iran and not the JCPOA is its focus in Washington's Iran policy. Washington still has no coherent policy towards Iran or the JCPOA.
Q: UN Secretary-General António Guterres, stated that he has always believed that the JCPOA is an important diplomatic achievement, in a statement to reporters that he will try not to lose this agreement. What does he mean by these efforts and what initiatives can he take?
A: The United Nations is a minor player when it comes to reviving the JCPOA. Other than issuing occasional words of support for the JCPOA, António Guterres does not have the wherewithal or the authority to undertake meaningful initiatives to revive the JCPOA.
Q: Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran met with Josep Borrell in the Dead Sea area of Jordan and said that “The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to conclude the Vienna talks based on the draft negotiation package that is the result of months of hard and intensive negotiations.” What is your assessment of these words?
A: Iran has been saying the same thing for several months now, and what Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian said in his meeting with Josep Borrell is nothing new. So long as Washington has not fully accepted the draft negotiation package, especially when it comes to its end of obligations, the JCPOA's horizon will remain murky. Also, according to a story published by Axios and a new video that just surfaced on social media, Joe Biden said on the sidelines of a November 4, 2022 election rally that the JCPOA is “dead,” but stressed his administration won’t formally announce it.
Q: The meeting in Jordan can reduce regional tensions, especially between Iran and Saudi Arabia. It seems that reducing the tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia will also help to revive the JCPOA. What is your assessment?
A: Reducing tensions between Tehran and Riyadh will have a positive impact on a number of regional and extra-regional issues, including the JCPOA. However, we need to be cognizant of the fact that Iran-Saudi relations cannot be improved overnight as significant areas of disagreement remain between the two countries.
Q: It seems that with the recent movements, the previous pessimism towards the revival of the JCPOA has decreased a little. Do you agree with this opinion?
A: There are so many forces in play when it comes to the JCPOA, it is difficult to gauge where the pendulum is swinging at any given time. I think exercising realism and prudence is a better policy than either pessimism or overzealous optimism.
نظر شما