Iraqchi: We Will Not Negotiate Until Trump Returns to JCPOA or Announces His Policy

The Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic states that Tehran will not negotiate nuclear issues with the United States until the Trump administration returns to the JCPOA or announces its policy regarding it. Abbas Araqchi, in an interview with Iranian television on Tuesday evening, January 25, mentioned that Tehran officials still do not know the position of the incoming U.S. government on the JCPOA. He stated that since the United States withdrew from this nuclear agreement, negotiations have only been with other parties to the JCPOA. He emphasized that during this time, Iran's negotiations with the U.S. regarding the nuclear file have been 'indirect,' also referring to discussions with the Biden administration through Oman, which he called the 'Muscat process.' The Iranian Foreign Minister also commented on the possibility of direct negotiations with the Trump administration, stating, 'We have not heard anything from the new U.S. government, and we adjust our policy based on the approaches of the other side.' These statements come at a time when on January 1, Ali Abdolalizadeh, the representative of the Iranian President for the development of the sea-oriented economy, announced that the Iranian ruling body has reached a point of 'face-to-face negotiations' with the U.S. and that negotiations should be held with Donald Trump. He, who was the head of Masoud Pezeshkian's campaign during the elections, further emphasized that the Islamic Republic needs a 'new foreign policy.' In his interview on Monday, Abbas Araqchi also claimed that recent negotiations with the three European powers and the European Union, the second round of which was held yesterday and today in Geneva, have been 'positive.' During these two days, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, the political deputy, and Kazem Gharibabadi, the legal deputy of this ministry, met with their counterparts from Germany, France, and Britain, as well as the deputy coordinator of the European Union. Gharibabadi announced after the meeting on Monday that ideas in 'two areas of lifting sanctions and nuclear issues, which are essential for reaching an agreement,' were discussed, and 'there was consensus that negotiations should be resumed to reach an agreement.' In another part of his interview, the Iranian Foreign Minister stated regarding Iran's acceptance of the conditions of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that it is 'not guaranteed' that leaving the blacklist of this organization would have an 'extraordinary impact on the country's economic relations.' Abbas Araqchi pointed out that according to the views of 'supporters of joining the FATF,' it is 'established' that leaving the blacklist 'at least reduces our damages, as we have economic problems due to sanctions and many other issues.' He further clarified that 'the FATF is not the solution to all our problems; it solves part of the problems.' Meanwhile, some members of Masoud Pezeshkian's cabinet, including the Minister of Economy and the government spokesperson, have reported that Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, has 'agreed' to reconsider the FATF-related bills in the Expediency Discernment Council. This council has, in recent years, confirmed the Guardian Council's negative opinion regarding the 'Palermo and CFT bills' that had been approved by the Islamic Consultative Assembly, preventing their finalization. The Financial Action Task Force is an intergovernmental organization that provides recommendations in the form of international standards to combat 'money laundering and terrorist financing.' Many governments, financial institutions, and banks voluntarily implement these recommendations, and so far, only Iran and North Korea are on this organization's blacklist.