The US State Department said in a statement on Tuesday (September 7) that Robert Marley, the US special envoy for Iran, will visit Moscow and Paris this week to hold talks with Russian and European officials on Iran’s nuclear program.
The talks will cover “Iran’s nuclear program and the need to quickly reach and implement an understanding of mutual compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan,” it said, referring to Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with major powers.
Former President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement, according to which Iran agreed to restrict its nuclear activities in exchange for lifting sanctions. Tehran responded to the re-imposition of sanctions by the United States by violating many restrictions. The last indirect negotiation to resume the transaction was conducted on June 20.
An American official who asked not to be named said that Marley is expected to meet with Russian officials in Moscow on Wednesday and Thursday, and with British, French, German and European Union officials in Paris on Friday.
The official said that the talks will not focus on the IAEA Board of Governors meeting next week.
The UN nuclear watchdog has criticized Iran for obstructing investigations into past activities and jeopardizing important monitoring efforts, which may complicate efforts to resume negotiations on the Iranian nuclear agreement. Tehran insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
The US official said: “The focus of our meeting will be nuclear diplomacy with Iran and where we are going.” Washington still does not know when negotiations to resume the agreement may resume as Iran’s nuclear program continues to advance.
“We are still discussing what our approach will be if we conclude that Iran is not interested in (agreement) returning” or envisage returning on conditions that Washington will not accept. “We must consider what these alternatives are.”
The official pointed out that this trip does not include a visit to China, but he said: “We are keeping in touch with our Chinese colleagues.”
