Just a day after agreeing to take the diplomatic route with Iran, US President Joe Biden called for the assistance of US’s allies to terminate the “destabilising” activities carried out by Iran.
At the virtually held Munich Security Conference, Biden announced that the US is willing to work with its allies to curb the unrest caused by Iran and reverse the hostile approach taken by former US President Donald Trump.
“The threat of nuclear proliferation also continues to require careful diplomacy and cooperation among us,” Biden told his counterparts.
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“That’s why we have said we’re prepared to reengage in negotiations with the P5+1 on Iran’s nuclear program,” he said, referring to the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany.
“We must also address Iran’s destabilizing activities across the Middle East, and we’re going to work in close cooperation with our European and other partners as we proceed.”
The statement was given after the Biden administration agreed to resume diplomatic dialogue and negotiations with Iran in regards to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which Trump withdrew from.
After Trump pulled out in 2018 and aggressively placed sanctions on many Iranian individuals and organizations to punish the country, the Islamic republic resumed enrichment and development activities in alleged violation of the pact.
On Thursday State Department spokesman Ned Price said Washington had accepted an invitation by the European Union political director Enrique Mora for an “informal” meeting involving Iran.
Price said the meeting would “discuss a diplomatic way forward.”
In addition to the agreement, the Biden administration also abandoned the push for further sanctions at the UN which were initiated by Trump and also lifted substantial restrictions from diplomats representing Iran.
However, Iran replied by renewing its demand from the US to waive sanctions enforced by Trump, by maintaining a threat of restriction to access the UN nuclear inspectors.
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Minister of Iran tweeted that Tehran would “immediately reverse” its responsive measures if the US agrees to lift “all sanctions imposed, re-imposed or re-labelled by Trump.”
Earlier Thursday Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State and European countries warned jointly that putting restrictions on the inspectors would be a “dangerous” step.
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Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said there was currently no such thing as P5+1 “because of US withdrawal” from the agreement.
“Gestures are fine. But to revive P5+1, US must Act: LIFT sanctions. We WILL respond,” the spokesman tweeted.
A senior official in the Biden administration said that the President is likely to act in good faith and sees the initiative as a “prolonged path” of better relations.
If Iran declines to meet, “I think it would be… unfortunate,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
Biden reiterated “an openness to having a diplomatic conversation,” using the same channels of the past with the P5+1 partners, said Psaki.
“We don’t anticipate taking additional steps,” she said.
