As Qatar mediates, Iran considers the US response to the nuclear accord

• Reviewing the US response at expert levels is ongoing and will take “at least” until the end of the week.
• The working week in Iran ends on Friday, so a response appears unlikely before September 2.
• Qatar continues to mediate and relay messages between the sides.

As Qatar continues to serve as the mediator between the parties, Iran says its evaluation of the US response to a draft document to revive the 2015 nuclear deal will take a few more days.

Nournews, a website connected to the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, stated in a tweet on Sunday that the expert review of the US response is ongoing and will last “at least” through the end of the week.

Since Iran’s workweek finishes on Friday, a response before September 2 seems doubtful.

Iran responded to the European text earlier this month, and more than a week later, on Wednesday, Washington provided its own comments on the document.

Josep Borrell, the head of foreign policy for the EU, has called both responses “fair” and stated that he intends to set up additional meetings in Vienna to hopefully reach a conclusion.

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Qatar has continued to mediate and transmit communications between the sides in the meantime. Qatar sponsored a two-day round of indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington that were mediated by the EU in late June.

The talks were discussed during a meeting between Iran’s lead negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani and Qatar’s assistant foreign minister for regional affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, on Saturday in Tehran, according to the Qatari foreign ministry.

According to a statement from the foreign ministry, Al-Khulaifi “emphasized the need of going further in order to resurrect the nuclear accord, which is in the interest of the security and stability of the region.”

The EU’s Enrique Mora, who serves as the coordinator for the nuclear talks, then took a call from the Qatari official.

In regards to the meeting with the Qatari official, Iran made no reports or remarks.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the agreement is officially known, was unilaterally terminated by the US in 2018 and was followed by the imposition of severe penalties that are still in place today.

In retaliation, Iran accelerated the development of its nuclear program to the highest levels ever, but it has insisted that its goal is not the development of a nuclear weapon.

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