Parties to Iran nuclear deal say they’re preparing to make another deal with the Democrats

Parties to Iran nuclear deal say they’re preparing for possible US return to accord

Published 14:07 December 22, 2020 Updated 14:13 December 22, 2020

Remaining parties to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal on Monday said they are preparing for a possible return of the United States to the accord.

Iran signed the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, with the United States, Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia.  President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord in 2018 and imposed punishing sanctions on Iran.

The deal allows Iran only to keep a stockpile of 202.8 kilograms of low-enriched uranium. Citing the US withdrawal from the deal, Iran has breached many of JCPOA’s restrictions, including on the purity to which it enriches uranium and its stock of enriched uranium.

The United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency earlier said that, as of November 2, Iran had a stockpile of 2,442.9kg, up from 2,105.4kg reported on August 25. It added that Iran has been continuing to enrich uranium to a purity of up to 4.5%, higher than the 3.67% allowed under the deal.

President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office on January 20, has suggested he will reenter the JCPOA if Iran complies with the agreement

In a joint statement, Germany, France, and the U.K., along with accord signatories China, Russia, and Iran, said they were ready to “positively address” a US return to the nuclear accord.

Iran, however, says its missile program and regional policies are off the table and that Washington and the E3 must first comply with the nuclear agreement. Foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated that Tehran will not agree to a new deal.