Principled Diplomacy Best Path to Resolve Iranian Issue

EghtesadOnline: United States’ Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted “principled diplomacy” as the best way to address concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.

News ID: ۷۸۶۰۱۱

15 February 2021

In a tweet on Saturday, he expressed delight that US Special Envoy for Iran Rob Malley has had a “great start” along this line at the State Department.

“Pleased to see Special Envoy for Iran Rob Malley off to a great start at the @StateDept. Principled diplomacy is the best path to ensuring that Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon,” he said.

Iran’s nuclear issue is believed to be the greatest challenge facing the administration of the newly inaugurated US President Joe Biden.

Over the past months, Tehran has been ramping up its nuclear activities beyond the limits set by the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The nuclear steps are taken in response to the sweeping sanctions reimposed by former US president, Donald Trump, after he pulled Washington out of the JCPOA in 2018. The measures were implemented after European parties also proved unable for a full year to meet their end of the bargain under US pressure.

In a latest move, Iran began producing uranium metal to be used as fuel in the Tehran Research Reactor. The measure has provoked alarm among western counties who worry the material is aimed for building nuclear weapons.

Iran has always denied military aspects to its nuclear program, stressing that the technology is meant for civilian purposes.

Biden appears to be seeking a more diplomatic approach toward Iran after Trump’s “maximum pressure campaign” proved to be a total failure.

He intends to rejoin the accord, but on condition that Iran resumes full compliance first. Tehran, however, says it will proceed with its nuclear plans unless sanctions are fully and effectively removed.

Iranian officials have declared that all nuclear steps would be quickly reversed once the country verifies that sanctions are practically gone.