Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Iran, US begin EU-led indirect nuclear deal talks in Qatar

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran and the United States began indirect talks Tuesday in Qatar aimed at finding a way to save Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers.

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, met with European Union official Enrique Mora in Doha after earlier meeting Qatari officials with Tehran’s local ambassador. Mora will pass messages between the Americans and Iranians.

Rob Malley, the US special representative for Iran, arrived in Qatar on Monday night ahead of the talks. The US Embassy in Qatar said Malley met with Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss “joint diplomatic efforts to address issues with Iran,” but declined to immediately offer any other details about his trip.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it “welcomed” hosting the talks. It said the talks aimed to reestablish the deal “in a way that supports and enhances security, stability and peace in the region and opens new horizons for broader regional cooperation and dialogue with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Iran and world powers agreed in 2015 to the nuclear deal, which saw Tehran drastically limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. In 2018, then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord, raising tensions across the wider Middle East and sparking a series of attacks and incidents. READ MORE