Barbara Leaf: The JCPOA is No Longer 'On the Table' as Before

Barbara Leaf, head of the Near Eastern Affairs section at the U.S. State Department, indicated that the nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic has lost its centrality for various reasons and is no longer 'effectively' 'on the table' as it once was. In remarks on Tuesday, June 13, to members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's subcommittee, Ms. Leaf stated that despite the reduced focus on the nuclear agreement with Tehran, Washington still considers diplomacy an effective means to counter the threats posed by the Islamic Republic and to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. This senior American diplomat identified the best way to impose restrictions on Iran's nuclear program as a return to diplomacy through rigorous inspections and oversight. The head of the Near Eastern Affairs section at the State Department noted that the United States has made it very clear to the Iranian government that the development of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. Barbara Leaf also urged America's partners to adopt a similar approach towards Tehran. This senior U.S. diplomat emphasized that President Joe Biden is firmly committed to ensuring that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons. She referred to the widespread dissemination of false and misleading news on this issue in the media, stating that the U.S. is monitoring international threats from Iran through direct or indirect diplomatic means. Recently, following reports about a temporary agreement between Tehran and Washington, Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the State Department, denied the accuracy of these reports, calling them incorrect. In another part of her remarks, Barbara Leaf emphasized that the U.S. is trying to compel Iran to de-escalate on various fronts. However, this senior American official did not limit Washington's tools for countering Tehran's actions to diplomacy alone, adding that the United States employs other complementary tools to prevent Iranian adventurism. This senior American official mentioned forming coalitions with partners possessing defensive capabilities and interested in holding Iran accountable as part of the complementary diplomatic strategies of the U.S. As an example, she cited the U.S. response to Iran and its proxy groups' attacks on American forces in Syria as one of the complementary diplomatic tools to counter Tehran. This senior American official described the increasing military relations between Iran and Russia as a cause for concern for the U.S. Barbara Leaf announced extensive sanctions against Iran's drone exports to Russia as one of the tools the U.S. is using to pressure Iran. She called the growing defense relations between Iran and Russia concerning and stated that the U.S. and its European partners are acting 'very much in sync' in this regard. The U.S. stated that if its interests require it, it has the capability to send diplomatic messages to Iran. Discussions between Baqeri and officials from three European countries regarding 'mutual concerns' were noted. The U.S. State Department described reports of a temporary agreement with Iran as 'incorrect and misleading.' The Islamic Republic also denied the possibility of a 'temporary agreement' between Iran and the U.S. The validity of the news regarding a 'potential agreement between Iran and the U.S.' halted the decline in oil prices. The U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council urged Iran to 'fully cooperate' with the agency.