The Final Step to Reviving the JCPOA Remains
The final step to reviving the JCPOA remains, while the news of the U.S. sending its official response to Iran’s view on the JCPOA text has been the top story in recent media. Speculations about the end of the story regarding the decisions of Iran and the U.S. on what is known as the JCPOA revival, as expected, present contradictory approaches and predictions.
Meanwhile, after the U.S. response and considering the statements of American officials, beyond the speculations of international media that are not particularly fond of the Islamic Republic and Iran, it must be said that the U.S. response is nothing more than an emphasis on the importance of the existing agreement text, which is originally the handiwork of Europeans. Now, the fate of the JCPOA in its current state, and not entirely, is left to Iran and the ruling system to decide based on the U.S. response.
The JCPOA Worked and Works
A key point about the JCPOA and the nuclear agreement, which is often overlooked in news reports and analyses, is the nature and reality of the JCPOA. Since its inception before its finalization in 2015, it was particularly portrayed for Iranians as a path to economic opening and especially the payment of money to Iran. This specific approach aligns with the natural result of a coherent agreement, which is the lifting of unjust sanctions.
It is not entirely meaningless. It should be noted that the image presented by officials and hostile forces of the JCPOA is also something akin to channeling money to Iran. However, the reality of the JCPOA is nothing but structuring, organizing, and targeting the control framework of Iran’s nuclear program, which should be carried out through the International Atomic Energy Agency. Based on this, the operational consequences and precise implementation of this program involve lifting the sanctions imposed on Iran concerning its nuclear program.
The illusion of the JCPOA’s downfall with Trump’s claim of U.S. withdrawal caused many analyses and reports to fundamentally err regarding the JCPOA and its function. The Rouhani administration rightly emphasized Trump’s behavior and highlighted the American breach of promise and the dishonorable nature of his administration’s sanctioning efforts, based on Iran’s interests and national dignity. However, it should have been understood that the structure controlling Iran’s nuclear program was working to its maximum capacity.
The U.S. could not even take a step towards removing other JCPOA parties from the agreement. Almost all the developments and changes Iran made in its nuclear program were communicated to the International Atomic Energy Agency either in advance or afterward. Contrary to many perceptions, disputes over agency control and oversight did not reach a serious peak. It was during the most sensitive bargaining conditions for Iran to gain concessions that the agency’s cameras were reactivated, enrichment levels increased, and enriched uranium stockpiles were almost always reported to the agency. The JCPOA worked and continues to work.
The Complete Importance of Reviving the JCPOA
Now, if the JCPOA wants to fully function under normal conditions, it requires Iran’s understanding of reality and the respect and dignity of Americans towards Iran and its people. The most significant effect of Trump’s behavior towards the JCPOA was opening the hands of his friends, namely Saudi Arabia and Russia, in the oil market, and they ramped up their production. Erdogan, another important friend and partner of Trump, thanks to the JCPOA, brought many blessings and fleeing investments from Iran to his country.
The unrest and military and security tensions in the ever-Persian Gulf were also the result of Iran’s struggle to demonstrate its importance, and these movements and conflicts at various times and in different instances were the result of that reality. Iran’s nuclear program is so under control that there is no room for maneuvering and showcasing power, and direct confrontation with the Israeli and Saudi governments was a possible strategy.
A report by the U.S. Congress Research Institute, which is one of the best examples for understanding the assessments, analyses, positions, and strategies of the U.S. government, recently prepared and presented a specific case regarding Iran’s nuclear program for Congress members. The approach, assessment, and analysis of the future in this report are unprecedentedly based on the confidence of the Biden administration and its allies in their ability to control Iran’s nuclear program.
Apart from dispelling the doubts caused by the falsehoods spread by Western opponents of the JCPOA, the explicit and clear references in this report to the knowledge of American nuclear and military experts about the nuclear program are noteworthy. It should be considered that, in any case, controlling Iran’s nuclear program through an international expert structure and the IAEA is a top priority for many specialists in the current government.
Otherwise, control through military means and specific operations is another tested and successful strategy that leaves little concern for those who want to prevent Iran from potentially approaching nuclear weapon construction by any means necessary. It is natural that politicians and experts who are influential and knowledgeable in this matter desire nothing more than a peaceful, expert, and comprehensive understanding path.
The Fate of the European Agreement is Key
From the perspective of the overall agreement reached in Vienna and the text prepared by Europeans, which all JCPOA parties have been satisfied with, the attention of the current government in Iran and our country’s leadership to the serious reality of Europe’s vital role in JCPOA interactions is natural. It is only natural that the results of recent bilateral negotiations between Iranian and American security officials have been satisfactory for the Iranian side, and the interactions have led to new understandings with Saudi Arabia and the UAE and even a softer atmosphere in relations with a country like Egypt.
However, the JCPOA developments in the past month have demonstrated the power and importance of Europe’s role. The exclusive and exploitative sanctioning environment that the ruling economy benefits from owes much of its operational space to the opportunities Europeans still leave open for Iran. The various interactions over the past month with European countries and agreements like the prisoner exchange agreement with Belgium demonstrate the benefits of engaging with Europe. If Iran discards this European agreement text, it will lose vital European opportunities. The JCPOA works and will continue to work. The cost of Iran’s lack of full cooperation with it is, of course, not easily recoverable.