The Joint Commission of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)—the 2015 nuclear deal between the Iran and six other governments (the P-5 plus Germany)—met this morning in Vienna, chaired by European External Action Services Deputy Secretary Enrique Mora and attended by representatives of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and Iran at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers/Political Directors. (The EEAS is the EU diplomatic service and headed by Josep Borrell.) According to a statement issued by the EEAS, the participants “recognized the prospect of a full return of the U.S. to the JCPOA, and underlined their readiness to positively address this in a joint effort. Participants also emphasized their commitment to preserve the JCPOA and discussed modalities to ensure the return to its full and effective implementation.” They also agreed to meet again, next Tuesday, April 6, “in order to clearly identify sanctions lifting and nuclear implementation measures, including through convening meetings of the relevant expert groups.”
The U.S. did not participate in today’s meeting and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who represented Iran at the Vienna meeting, made clear that the U.S. will not be attending next week’s meeting either. Araghchi said that the Vienna talks to be held April 6is a Joint Commission meeting aimed at addressing the potential of the U.S. returning to the JCPOA and only participants to the deal would attend the meeting. He made it clear that the United States representatives wouldn’t take part in any meeting in which Iran might attend. “This is certain,” he declared. The EU statement specified, however, that EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell will intensify separate contacts in Vienna with all JCPOA participants and the United States.
