Iranian Regime Ignores Its Main Demand in the Qatar Talks

On the evening of Friday, June 24, the High Representative of the European Union Josep Borrell traveled to Iran to ask the Iranian regime’s leaders to sign a draft agreement to revive the JCPOA. Upon his return to Europe, Borrell announced that nuclear talks would soon resume.

This news was confirmed by the regime’s foreign ministry, whose spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh announced on June 27 that the nuclear talks would be held this week, adding that the United States has promised to guarantee Iran’s economic benefits from the JCPOA.

Khatibzadeh stated, “During Mr. Borrell’s visit to Tehran, detailed talks were held. Mr. Borrell said on behalf of the United States that the Americans were committed to acting within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, adhering to its commitments in this regard, ensuring Iran’s economic cycle of recovery from the revival of JCPOA, and resolve the remaining disputes.”

Following these remarks, many of the regime’s media outlets, and some of its hardline officials, called this a disgrace.

On June 28, while quoting Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta that negotiations will be held in Qatar, the state-run Kayhan daily wrote, “Iran is ready to give up one of its main demands in the nuclear talks. Iran does not oppose keeping the Revolutionary Guards on the list of terrorist organizations but expects that the sanctions against the IRGC’s internal structures be weakened, but observers doubt that the Biden government can even agree to this option.”

Hossein Shariatmadari, the managing editor of Kayhan, warned Raisi’s government. “Negotiation in Qatar is a trap. You should not reward the United States. Westerners expect the system to welcome the continuation of negotiations (i.e., retreat) in the face of the US-European trap,” he wrote.

Kayhanadded, “The start of indirect talks between Iran and the United States in Qatar sends the wrong message to the other side. Recent decisions at the macro level damage this principled policy.”

Frustrated, Kayhan questioned Raisi, asking, “Didn’t the 13th government say that we would not tie our livelihood to the JCPOA? So why does Raisi want to negotiate with America?!”

Despite Iran’s critical situation and the struggles of its people, the activities of the Iranian Resistance have forced the regime’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei to send a negotiator into this ‘trap’ This is a reality that is looming, regardless of the outcome of the talks.

Kayhan counted some of the blows that the regime has received in recent weeks:

• The anti-Iranian resolution in the IAEA Board of Governors.
• The activation of Zionist intelligence services.
• The assassination of Martyr Sayad Khodaei.
• The sabotage of nuclear facilities.
• The recent sanctions on Iran in the field of petrochemicals.
• The theft of Iranian tanker cargo in Greek waters.
• Announcing an award for information about the IRGC.

In fear of an implosion, Khatibzadeh tried to justify the regime’s decision, saying, “The talks are not about the ‘nuclear dimension’ and will only be about ‘the few remaining issues in the lifting of sanctions’ and ‘nothing will be added or diminished to the Vienna Accords’.”

Submerged in the quagmire of internal and global deadlocks, Khamenei has once again accepted a humiliating retreat in order to save his regime. However, nothing will change, and the latest nuclear talks are unlikely to bring any positive outcome for the regime.

On June 29, the regime reported that the indirect talks with the US government ended without any result. This was not a surprise to the regime’s lack of capacity to step back. Any retreat will cause the unraveling of the regime as Khamenei has said repeatedly. This is precisely what Shariatmadari was warning about.