The transmission of a “final text” by the European Union (EU) this Monday (8) aims to save the deal on the Iranian nuclear program, an endless saga that has alarmed the world for two decades.
Talks began in 2003, and an agreement was signed in 2015 with provisions for the gradual lifting of international sanctions against Iran in exchange for guarantees that the Islamic Republic will not develop atomic weapons.
This agreement was signed between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (USA, UK, France, Russia and China) and Germany.
The deal, however, has been in shambles since Washington left in 2018 under Donald Trump, who reimposed economic sanctions on Tehran. In retaliation, Iran broke its commitments from 2019.
a historic deal
In June 2013, Hassan Rouhani, who participated in the initial negotiations in 2003, was elected president and received the approval of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to block the debates.
After nearly two years of intense negotiations, the agreement was signed on 14 July 2015 in Vienna, Austria. Tehran has promised to reduce its nuclear capacity for many years in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.
The aim was to prevent the Asian country from producing atomic bombs and to guarantee the right to develop nuclear activities for civilian purposes under the tight control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The agreement, which was ratified by the UN Security Council on 20 July 2015, entered into force on 16 January 2016.
Departure from the United States
On May 8, 2018, however, Trump announced that his country was withdrawing from the agreement and that sanctions against Iran were reinstated.
Washington has unilaterally imposed harsh sanctions on Tehran, especially against the oil and financial sectors.
Progressive reduction of commitments
On May 8, 2019, Iran began violating some of its obligations in an attempt to pressure other signatories of the agreement to help them circumvent US sanctions. Trump also introduced new restrictions.
Iran has increased enrichment levels and the amount of heavy water allowed, and announced in January 2020 that it is no longer willing to abide by any limits on the “number of centrifuges”.
In 2021, it announced that it produced 60% enriched uranium.
debates in Vienna
Further discussion began in Vienna in April 2021, and with Joe Biden’s arrival at the White House, the United States was indirectly invited to participate.
On August 5, Iran’s new president, ultra-conservative Ebrahim Raisi, said he was willing to support “any diplomatic plan” that would allow US sanctions to be lifted.
Optimistic statements in February 2022 indicated the possibility of an agreement, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine cooled the debate.
In March, the US and Iran accused each other of blocking the office. The US has imposed economic sanctions on suppliers of Iran’s ballistic missile program, which it calls “measurable proof” of Washington’s “bad faith”.
Warning and sanctions
On June 8, the IAEA adopted a resolution criticizing Iran’s lack of cooperation at the request of the United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany.
In response, the IAEA at the Islamic Republic nuclear facilities disconnected security cameras.
On June 16, Washington announced sanctions against Iranian petrochemical groups.
return to vienna
On July 26, EU foreign policy holder Josep Borrell delivered a draft agreement and asked the parties to accept it to avoid a “dangerous crisis”.
On August 4, the parties – Iran, Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom and Germany – met in Vienna with the indirect participation of the United States.
Three days later, Tehran asked the IAEA to shelve an investigation into unreported nuclear fields with traces of enriched uranium.
On Monday, August 8, Iran assured that it had analyzed the “final text” delivered to the EU today.
source: Noticias
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