US Sending Positive Signals On Nuclear Deal: Iran’s State Media

Last year, Iran had turned off 27 cameras or monitoring devices installed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), when the UN watchdog’s board of governors in June 2022 censured Tehran for its lack of cooperation with the agency and excessive uranium enrichment.

On Thursday, Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman of Iran’s atomic agency, was quoted by local media as saying that ten of these cameras have been reinstalled in Esfahan’s Natanz facility, which is a major enrichment center, which apparently has a centrifuge production facility making the machines used in uranium enrichment.

He added that the centrifuge manufacturing center in Esfahan is the same Karaj centrifuge production line – the TESA Karaj, a now decommissioned workshop in the west of the capital Tehran -- that was moved to a safe place aftera June 2021 attack that Iran said Israel was responsible for. The IAEA had confirmed that the production of centrifuge rotor tubes and bellows at TESA Karaj Complex has stopped.

An IAEA report cited by Reuters said Iran had informed the agency on January 19 that it intended to “produce centrifuge rotor tubes and bellows at a new location in Esfahan, instead of at the centrifuge component production workshop at the TESA Karaj complex, and that the Agency could adjust its surveillance and monitoring measures accordingly.”

According to Kamalvandi, the data stored in the re-installed cameras will remain with Iran and the agency will not have access to them until the JCPOA nuclear agreement is restored.

A law passed in Iran in December 2020, the IAEA does not have automatic access to the manufacturing process or to the cameras’ footage. Under current arrangements covering nuclear sites, Iran is storing data from cameras and other monitoring equipment but has said the agency will not have access to the data until and unless the signatories find a way to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).

The IAEA is responsible for monitoring and verifying Iran’s compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, which limited the country’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, but Iran has been gradually scaling back its commitments under the JCPOA in response to the US withdrawal from the agreement and the re-imposition of sanctions.

The US nuclear watchdog can continue its monitoring of Iran’s nuclear program through other means, including satellite imagery, but the loss of the cameras raised concerns about the agency’s ability to detect any potential covert activities.

Since early May, IAEA Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi had been saying that the agency was installing cameras and reconnecting some online monitoring systems as part of an agreement between Tehran and the agency. However, as soon as that agreement had been announced in March, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and IAEA offered a different interpretation about what it would include, raising questions about its implementation.

The news about Iran reinstalling the cameras came on the heels of reports about Tehran and Washington holding indirect talks to sketch steps that could limit the Iranian nuclear program, release some detained US citizens and unfreeze some of the Islamic Republic’s funds abroad.

Reuters reported on Friday that these steps would be cast as an "understanding" rather than an agreement which would require a review by the US Congress, where many oppose giving Iran benefits because of its military aid to Russia, domestic repression and its support for proxies that have attacked US interests in the region.

American officials have dismissed reports of an impending interim deal, using carefully constructed denials that leave open the possibility of a less formal "understanding" that could avoid congressional review.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani also rejected the possibility of an interim or partial deal, emphasizing that they are only after the revival of the JCPOA in its entirety.

Denying the existence of such a deal, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Thursday that Washington wanted Tehran to de-escalate tensions and limit nuclear activities, cease support for regional proxy groups, halt support for Russia's war on Ukraine and release detained US citizens. "We continue to use diplomatic engagements to pursue all of these goals," he added, without giving details.

Reuters cited an unnamed Iranian official as saying: "Call it whatever you want, whether a temporary deal, an interim deal, or a mutual understanding - both sides want to prevent further escalation."

Iranian Road Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash, who has travelled to Russia to attend the 26th Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), urged the launch of a joint shipment company as soon as possible.

In a meeting with Igor Levitin, aide to the President Vladimir Putin, and the governors of the Volga River region the two sides reviewed the capacities of transportation from the Volga and the inland Caspian Sea, IRNA state news agency reported.

Dmitry Azarov, the governor of Russia's Samara, which is one the top ten Russian cities in terms of national income, also proposed creating a river hub in the three ports of Syzran, Tolyatti and Samara port, saying the development of these ports are important for Putin.

CNN reported last month that Tehran is using the Caspian Sea to transfer suspected weapons cargoes to Moscow.

It quoted experts as saying that as cooperation between the two countries deepens, the Caspian Sea route is being used to move drones, ammunition, and mortar shells that the Russian government has purchased from Iran to use in Ukraine.

Last year, shipping analytics company Vortexa also reported that eleven ships that previously carried Iranian crude transported Russian oil and products since April 2022.

“As more companies scale back from carrying Russian crude and products, those familiar with the sanctioned crude trade will continue using their tankers to assist Russia in exporting oil East of Suez,” Armen Azizian, a crude market analyst at Vortexa.

The State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in his press briefing on Thursday responded to questions by reporters about a possible deal in the making, saying, “with respect to Iran’s nuclear program, there is no deal.“

But the fact remains that the Biden administration has had even direct talks with Iranian diplomats for the past 7-8 months according to multiple reports, in addition to talks mediated by Oman and others.

Also, Washington agreed to the release of $2.7 billion of Iran’s money frozen in Iraq for “humanitarian” purposes. Some argue that no matter what the formal label of the arrangement may be any funds Iran can use for imports alleviates financial pressure from the cash-strapped regime.

Given these concerns both Republicans and Democrats in Congress have begun stirring to make sure that the administration does not circumvent the lawmakers and according to law informs them of any deals with Iran.

"I'm extremely disappointed. To think this will end their uranium enrichment is childish. They'll continue to act in bad ways. When Iran is selling oil that it shouldn't, it gets those dollars and pumps it right back to extremist organizations," Sen. Joni Ernst told Iran International's Arash Aalaei.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Thursday saying, “I am disturbed by recent revelations that the Administration has re-engaged in “proximity talks” with the Iranian regime, and that the results of these discussions have included the apparent greenlighting of sizable payments to Iran.“

McCaul urged Biden to respect the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (INARA), which was enacted during the finalization of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 to allow Congress to oversee dealings with Tehran. The Obama administration decided not to make the JCPOA nuclear deal a treaty, given opposition in Congress at the time and agreed to INARA to neutralize opposition among lawmakers.

“I urge the Administration to remember that U.S. law requires that any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with Iran needs to be submitted to Congress pursuant to INARA. Any continued obstruction will rob the American people, and in particular the Gold Star families whose loved ones were killed by Iran-backed terrorism, of answers about why the United States is facilitating the lining of Iran’s coffers,” McCaul said.

The Jewish insider reported Thursday that Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC), joined by Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), also introduced legislation on Wednesday that would require the director of National Intelligence to notify Congress within 48 hours if Iran produces or possesses uranium of greater than 60 percent purity.

The Iranian Enrichment Monitoring Act is a new attempt led by Graham, Menedez and other lawmakers to ensure congressional oversight of how the executive branch deals with Iran’s nuclear program.

The website also quoted several senators, some supporters of the JCPOA voicing concern about secret dealings with Iran and releasing funds to the Iranian régime that continues its „malign activities“ in the region and sending arms to Russia.

State Department’s spokesperson Thursday more clearly listed what the administration seeks in its dealings with Iran.

"Number one, we want Iran to take steps to de-escalate tensions, which of course includes steps to curb its nuclear program," Miller said, and added that Iran should cease its actions that destabilize the Middle East.

"Number three, we want Iran to stop its support for Russia’s war on Ukraine,“ he said, referring to a new complication with Iran that emerged in mid-2022. He also demanded the release of US citizens Tehran has imprisoned „for political leverage."

Raisi, who arrived in Cuba for the last leg of his tour early Thursday, was received by Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez upon arrival at the airport and met with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana.

"Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Iran are among the countries that have had to heroically confront sanctions (...) threats, blockades and interference by Yankee imperialism and its allies with a tenacious resistance," Diaz-Canel told his Iranian counterpart, adding "This visit reinforced our conviction that we have in Iran a friendly nation in the Middle East, with which to confide ... and talk about the most complex global issues."

Raisi, in his turn, said, "The conditions and circumstances in which Cuba and Iran find themselves today have many things in common. Every day our relations grow stronger."

Raisi had earlier visited Venezuela, where he and President Nicolas Maduro pledged to boost bilateral trade from $3 billion to $20 billion within an unspecified time frame. Except Iran shipping oil and fuel to Venezuela and reportedly receiving gold, there is not much else the two sanctioned countries can trade.

He later visited Nicaragua, where he had a welcome ceremony at the Non-Aligned Square in the capital Managua led by President Daniel Ortega.

During all the stops, Raisi and the head of state of the host country oversaw ceremonies to signa raft of so-called economic agreements in a show of unity against the United States.

Common themes in Raisi’s speeches throughout the entire tour were creating a “new world order” that would overturn the US "domination" and cooperation among independent -- read sanctioned -- countries in the face of “the imperialist regime,” to become more resilient against US demands and its sanctions.

The three countries chosen as Raisi’s destination South are under scores of embargos over their shady economic dealings with blacklisted outfits such as Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and their track record of crackdown on dissent.

The Islamic Republic is relishing a sense of undermining its archrival, the US, as Raisi toured fellow sanctioned nations, celebrating it as a diplomatic coup de force at ‘America's backyard’.

During a joint press conference with his Nicaraguan counterpart on Wednesday, Raisi stressed the need for cooperation among “independent countries” towards neutralizing the predicaments that they commonly face, particularly Western sanctions.

"Cooperation between Latin American countries and other independent countries across various regions can forge a unity that can both neutralize sanctions and increase the capacities of the countries in question," he said, claiming that Iran “turned threats and sanctions into opportunities, and through these opportunities made great progress in different areas."

Riais's claim of successes contradict Iran's dire economic crisis and the daily criticism in Iran even by some of his allies.

Echoing similar anti-US sentiments, Ortega said: "We pay homage along with our heroes and martyrs, to all the heroes and martyrs of Iran and in particular to General Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated by Yankee imperialism when he was fighting against terrorism."

The Iranian president was accompanied with a large delegation made up of ministers and officials as well as his wife, who also made headlines for her controversial remarks during an interview with a Venezuelan TV channel. 

Claiming that governments abuse at the workplace in the name of freedom, Jamileh Alamolhoda – daughter of firebrand cleric Ahmad Alamolhoda – called it an example of violence when women study and work like men.

"We want women to remain women. Why should we be like men? Why should we study, work or live like men? This is a form of violence," she said.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, the President of the non-profit Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said that in addition to the work being done by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran needs “a credible military threat” to keep convincing the regime not to cross the line to build nuclear weapons.

“It requires real attention, and the United States administration is going to have to continue, and I would say increase its efforts to push Iran away from building nuclear weapons,” he said. 

As revelations continue about the resumption of US-Iran talks to make progress on the issue of Tehran’s nuclear program, Albright warned of deals which in the long term, may do more harm than good to efforts to disarm the regime. 

Both Tehran and Washington have denied negotiating for an interim nuclear deal.

“I think they [the Biden administration] can do it [but] I think they're conflicted and I think it's the responsibility of Congress and the public to put pressure on the Biden administration to increase their activities against the Iranian regime and in that process, avoid any deals that may in the short run relieve some of the pressure, but in the long run make the situation worse,” he warned. 

While he says Iran can be kept in check and believes the regime does not possess secret underground facilities which have evaded the eyes of the IAEA’s inspectors, the US cannot afford to turn away. As it focuses increasingly on China and disengages from the Middle East, it is not a realistic policy in a volatile region which needs constant attention. 

“Modest deals to lower the temperature” will not be enough, he said. “The Middle East is complicated … you may want to ignore it but it's not going to ignore you”. 

The regime understands that while building nuclear weapons has some positive aspects, it comes with huge risks, and Albright claims the regime is well aware of this, meaning it too must tread carefully.

“I think Iran can be stopped,” he said. “They haven't made the decision to build nuclear weapons. They increased their capabilities to produce weapon grade uranium. If they wanted, they could take the existing stockpiles of 20 and 60% enriched uranium and make enough weapon grade uranium for five nuclear weapons in a month but that doesn't mean they'll do it.”

However, having the fissile material is the first step and within as little as six months to a year, Iran could make a nuclear weapon, meaning the US and its allies must keep the pressure on the regime to ensure it does not cross the line. 

Publicly, the US continues to deny any deals or new rounds of talks with Iran, after revelations disclosed meetings in Oman this month. At the State Department press briefing this week, a very uncomfortable spokesman Matthew Miller tried to evade questions pressing him on the nature of talks, which he brushed off as “false” and “misleading”. 

However, speaking to the New York Times this week, Ali Vaez, the Iran director for the International Crisis Group, a conflict prevention organization, said talks are merely an attempt to calm tensions rather than strike a new deal, the goal to “put a lid on any activity that basically crosses a red line or puts either party in a position to retaliate in a way that destabilizes the status quo” and “create time and space to discuss the future diplomacy and the nuclear deal”.

The renewed US focus on Iran’s nuclear program a year after talks broke down comes amid growing concern within the Biden administration that Tehran could precipitate a crisis by further increasing its uranium enrichment.

Former White House Middle East policy advisor, Dennis Ross, told the New York Times: “The US seems to be making clear to Iran that if you go to 90 percent, you’re going to pay a hell of a price.”

“They want the priority and focus to remain on Ukraine and Russia,” he said. “Having a war in the Mideast, where you know how it starts but you don’t know how it ends, that’s the last thing they want.”