The consensus regarding the restoration of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal that placed limits on Iran’s nuclear program in return for the lifting of UN sanctions, seems to be that the decision of the U.K., France and Germany to drop their anti-Iran resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency, together with the agreement with Iran subsequently announced by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, open the doors for further diplomacy to restore the deal. However there are serious time constraints on moving through that door due in part to Iranian domestic politics.
“Things are moving in the right direction and we have had positive signals this week and especially in the last few days,” a French diplomatic source was quoted as saying by Reuters. The source further said the objective was to get everyone around the table before the start of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, on March 20, when Iran slows down administratively. He also stated that the window would narrow from mid-April when Iran’s presidential election campaign kicks in. “We are putting all our efforts so that this (meeting) can take place in the days or coming weeks,” the source said.