On Sunday, the United States (US) strongly denied all claims of nearing any agreement concerning Iran’s nuclear program.
The US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, in statements broadcasted on television and reported by Iran’s Mehr News Agency, emphasized, “We are not close to any agreement with Iran regarding its nuclear program.” Furthermore, he affirmed that no deal has been reached about the release of American citizens detained in Iran.
Efforts to resuscitate the nuclear deal, originally signed by Iran and the ‘P5+1’ – the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany, have hit a roadblock. The disagreement stems from the US and Iran’s failure to reach a consensus on the final text of the deal proposed by the European mediator.
Iran insists on closing the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) file on “allegations” related to traces of nuclear materials discovered in three unannounced Iranian sites. This issue is part of the guarantees that Tehran seeks to secure the sustainability of the deal.
It’s important to recall that the United States unilaterally pulled out from the agreement in May 2018, leading to the reinstatement of economic sanctions on Iran. In response, Iran decided to lift some of the restrictions imposed on its nuclear activity as stipulated in the agreement.
