TEHRAN(Bazaar): Robert Smith, professor at the University of San Francisco, believes that it is possible to reach an agreement between Iran and the United States in the forthcoming negotiations, but the parties have a difficult path ahead.
Following is the text of the interview with Robert Smith:
Bazaar: Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs said Wednesday that the Vienna talks with the aim of removal of the US sanctions will start on November 29. What is your assessment of this?
Smith: Given President Biden’s remarks at the G20 summit, as well as those of the leaders of France, the UK and Germany, and the remarks of Ulyanov and Ali Bagheri Kani that you refer to, I am somewhat more optimistic that some kind of agreement might be reached, but for sure the road ahead remains difficult.
Bazaar: President Ebrahim Raeisi said that "As Iran has announced before, we will not leave the negotiating table," adding that Iran wants result-oriented negotiations to remove oppressive US sanctions. Do you think that the result that Iran is seeking will be achieved in the negotiations?
Smith: The negotiation process will be very complicated and difficult, and the parties will have to give up some of their demands. Just as Iran wants to reach an agreement and lift sanctions, the Biden government also wants to reach an agreement and reduce tensions in the Middle East. In my opinion, the time has come to reach an agreement and we hope that the parties will come to a compromise.
Bazaar: Republicans in U.S. Congress announced that as soon as the Republican Party regains a majority in Congress, it will immediately rescind any agreement between the Biden administration and the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to the Washington Free Beacon, the Republican MPs said their clear message to the Islamic Republic of Iran was: “Joe Biden does not have the authority to promise the permanent lifting of sanctions of Iran.” Based on this, how does the Biden government want to guarantee the stability of the JCPOA?
Smith: And for sure, the Republicans in the US (and some Democrats) will fiercely resist any agreement that involves lifting of sanctions. The next president, whether a Democrat or a Republican, has the power to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal and re-impose sanctions on Iran (if an agreement is reached in the forthcoming negotiations).
Bazaar: Given the recent developments, what is your prediction for the future of the JCPOA?
Smith: As I said, based on the statements of President Biden and the leaders of France, Germany, etc. at the recent G20 summit, I am optimistic about the process of the forthcoming negotiations.
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