US: We Are Not Participating in Negotiations Between the Islamic Republic and Three European Powers

On Monday, the spokesperson for the US State Department stated in a press conference that the Biden administration is not participating, even indirectly, in negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the three remaining European countries in the JCPOA. Matthew Miller, in response to a question from a journalist from the Persian section of Voice of America regarding whether Washington would be present at this meeting and what its expectations are, said: "No, we will not join these negotiations. We have coordinated closely with our three European partners regarding the full implementation of Iran's nuclear safeguards commitments and holding Iran accountable for its failure to fulfill these commitments." He continued: "We have clearly stated that Iran must cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency without further delay, and therefore we will continue close coordination with the governments of France, Germany, and the UK." This US State Department official did not directly answer the question about whether Tehran's return to the negotiating table is a result of the resolution presented by these three countries at the latest IAEA Board of Governors meeting, but reiterated the concerns of the US and these three countries regarding Iran's nuclear activities, which have not been proven peaceful for over two decades. The spokesperson for the US State Department said, "We are concerned about Iran's new position, which has chosen the path of escalating tensions instead of cooperating with the Agency. This means continuing the production and accumulation of enriched uranium up to 60%, which has no credible civilian justification." Matthew Miller added: "The IAEA Board of Governors has explicitly stated that Iran must cooperate fully with the Agency without delay to resolve issues related to its legal obligations that have remained unresolved for over five years, and therefore we will continue to coordinate with our three European partners to hold Iran accountable." Kyodo News reported earlier on Sunday that the Islamic Republic is arranging nuclear negotiations with the UK and the European Union starting next Friday in Geneva, Switzerland. Tehran and London confirmed the news of this meeting on Monday, but Tehran did not specify its location. At the same time, AFP reported, citing the UK Foreign Office, that London stated, "We are committed to taking every diplomatic step to prevent the development of Iran's nuclear weapons, including through the snapback mechanism if necessary." This meeting, if it takes place, will occur a week after the approval of a reprimanding resolution by the three European countries with US support at the latest IAEA Board of Governors meeting on Thursday, November 23, and two months before the end of Joe Biden's administration. Farhad Poladi, born in Tehran in October 1972, became a reporter for IRNA in 1998 after eight years of teaching English at the Iran Language Institute; he has been a reporter for AFP in Tehran since 2003. His journalistic assignments have provided opportunities to travel to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Istanbul, Moscow, and Almaty.