TEHRAN(Bazaar) – Tariq Raouf, former Director General of the Atomic Energy Agency says Biden regime cannot commit to any agreement going beyond end of 2024 and it will have zero support in Congress to deliver any sanctions relief or release of seized Iranian assets.
Following is the text of the Bazaar interview with Tariq Raouf:
Bazaar: Axios has stated that the United States is seeking an interim agreement with Iran in order to gain the necessary time to negotiate a better agreement. What is your assessment of the solution?
Rauf: If the US thinks that Iran will accept stringent limits on its nuclear programme, without the US and others first lifting all sanctions and Iran sees foreign goods and services flowing to Iran without any hindrances and Iran's seized funds abroad are released; then these folks must be drinking something in their coffee to make them delusional. I think Iran correctly learned lessons not to trust the US/EU and now wants to see their words translated into actions on the ground. What is a "better and longer agreement" is a fantasy - the Biden regime cannot commit to any agreement going beyond end of 2024 and it will have zero support in Congress to deliver any sanctions relief or release of seized Iranian assets.
Bazaar: Three American and Israeli sources told Axios that US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, in a meeting with his Israeli counterpart, came up with the idea of reaching an interim agreement with Iran to allow time for nuclear talks. Why is this idea put forward by a European country currently being considered by the United States?
Rauf: This makes little sense, if a European ally proposed such a plan to Sullivan or he came up with it on his own, why is he seeking Israel's blessing and giving Israel a vote on the matter. Shows immaturity.
Bazaar: According to US sources, such an idea means that in the face of a halt to 60 percent enrichment in Iran, the United States and its allies would release some of Iran's blocked funds to provide sanctions exemptions for humanitarian goods. Given that nuclear progress is Iran's bargaining chip to lift all sanctions, will Iran accept the offer?
Rauf: Iran's suspension of 60% enrichment in return for concrete sanctions relief/release of seized funds could be a side deal. But Iran should first see the colour of the money in its hands before suspending 60% enrichment.
Bazaar: This is still an immature idea, and the Biden administration continues to insist that the 2015 nuclear deal be fully revived, but given the plan to resume nuclear talks on November 29, the proposal would at least provide an opportunity for U.S. government work on it. What is the benefit of this interim agreement for the United States and will it satisfy its allies as well?
Rauf: As I wrote on December 2020, I should expect any enlightened policy from the Biden team, it has a poor chequered record. As noted above, a side deal on 60% could buy time, keep the JCPOA on life support. The EU/E3 have little choice but to go along with the US.
Bazaar: What is your assessment of the International Atomic Energy Agency's new report about Iran before the start of the nuclear talks?
Rauf: Calls for the IAEA Board to "censure" Iran at next week's Board meeting make little sense and is unlikely to get unanimous support. More importantly, what can/will this achieve? It is a totally silly idea. The IAEA's JCPOA report updates developments from August and notes that now Iran is implementing severe security screening of IAEA inspectors as they enter facilities. Justification being increased security, as long as enhanced security measures are implemented in a professional manner I do not see any problem, after all Iran has suffered many sabotages and has to increase security. As for the safeguards report, no progress on the four locations. Obviously Iran has linked to progress in Vienna talks and Iran is using as leverage but frustrating the IAEA.
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