Biden and Iran Move Toward P5+1 Talks

In remarks made to the virtual Munich Security Conference yesterday, President Joe Biden indicated that the U.S. is preparing to enter into a diplomatic engagement regarding the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and Iran’s compliance with it. “The threat of nuclear proliferation also continues to require careful diplomacy and cooperation among us. We need transparency and communication to minimize the risk of strategic misunderstanding or mistakes. That’s why the United States and Russia, notwithstanding other competition, extended the New START Treaty for an additional four [five] years once I was sworn in,” he said. “That’s why we have said we’re prepared to re-engage in negotiations with the P5+1 on Iran’s nuclear program. 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.”