Iran continues evasive tactics despite momentum of eighth round of Vienna negotiations

The negotiations on the Iranian nuclear file hosted by Vienna brought new hope to the major powers that a solution is nearing to Tehran’s violations of the nuclear agreement signed since 2015, which it has practically dismantled and breached its agreed terms through multiple stages.

The movements of the negotiating delegations in Vienna gained great momentum in the eighth round of nuclear negotiations, which indicates a new and important development in the negotiation process that may lead to a remarkable breakthrough during the coming period.

It should be noted that the nuclear negotiations are scheduled to continue at various levels, and the joint committee of the nuclear agreement may convene at a later time after progress in the negotiations and the reduction of differences, as Washington is not negotiating with Tehran at the moment, but rather negotiations are taking place in Vienna between Iran and the 4+1 group that includes Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China, in addition to the European Union, which sponsors the negotiations, while the United States participates indirectly with the Iranian side.

Iranian negotiators refuse to meet with US officials in one room, so the other parties to the agreement move between the two sides in separate meetings, measures that have negative effects on the progress of the talks because they complicate means of understanding.

These negotiations aim to revive the Iranian nuclear agreement after it was suspended due to the withdrawal of the United States from it, and the negotiations resumed again after being suspended due to the New Year celebrations.

The talks are still facing major complications, including the issue of the number of US sanctions on Tehran to be lifted and the latter's return to abiding by its nuclear commitments as agreed in 2015.

According to Washington and the Europeans, the time available for the Vienna talks to revive the agreement has become weeks, not months, because they do not want Iran to use the time to enrich more uranium, while Iran does not want to put a time limit on the negotiations and always delays. As for China and Russia, they are optimistic about the Vienna talks and are mediating between Iran and the West.

It is noteworthy that the original agreement lifted economic sanctions on Tehran in exchange for strict restrictions on its nuclear activities, but former US President Donald Trump withdrew his country from the agreement in 2018 and re-imposed harsh sanctions on Tehran, which responded in 2019 by violating many nuclear restrictions and moved forward with its nuclear activities.