US: The Islamic Republic Must Take More Steps to Reduce Tensions to Return to the JCPOA

Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US State Department, cited the refusal of three International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts to conduct necessary inspections of facilities related to the Islamic Republic's nuclear program as one of the reasons why, according to him, "Iran has a long way to go before returning to the JCPOA." Miller's response was to a question from a Voice of America Persian journalist regarding Iranian counterpart Nasser Kanani's mention of "the return of all parties to the JCPOA." On Monday, October 2, Kanani stated in his daily press conference that the Islamic Republic wants the reinstatement of all parties to the JCPOA. In the press conference on October 2, Miller noted that the Biden administration's policy has not changed and is "committed to ensuring that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons," while still considering diplomacy as the preferred method. However, Miller did not provide a clear answer to the Voice of America question about whether this diplomacy aims to revive the JCPOA or something else. He said, "We have not yet seen (the Islamic Republic) take steps that we consider important for reducing tensions." The remarks of Shahram Irani, commander of the Islamic Republic's Navy, have also not gone unnoticed by the Biden administration. On Saturday, October 1, he stated, "We have property in Antarctica, and the plan is to raise the Iranian flag there and establish a permanent base for joint military and scientific work." However, according to the US State Department spokesperson, the nature of activities in that icy continent is purely peaceful. Miller reminded that "Antarctica is a haven for peaceful scientific exploration and research." He referred to the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, which clearly prohibits the establishment of military bases in that region of the Earth. Miller said, "Military activities have no place in that unique area, whether Iran wants to take such action or any other country." The US State Department spokesperson also dismissed the views of some members of the US Congress who claim that individuals loyal to the Islamic Republic have infiltrated the US government. In a press conference last Tuesday, responding to Voice of America about reports of a network of Islamic Republic agents infiltrating Western political circles and the US government, he considered the report to be from ten years ago and stated, "Most of the individuals mentioned in this report no longer hold positions in the US government, and one of them, who currently works for the US Department of Defense, is undergoing a full background check for a security clearance."