US-Iran: easing sanctions in exchange for stopping the supply of drones to Russia

As part of the talks on the “nuclear deal,” the United States promises to ease sanctions if Iran stops deliveries of its drones to Russia.

About the US offer informs Financial Times, citing sources close to the negotiations. According to them, the administration of US President Joe Biden had indirect talks in Oman and Qatar this year where this issue was raised. The discussions came at the same time as prisoner swap talks, which resulted in Tehran transferring four Iranian-American citizens from prison to house arrest a week ago.

The United States wants Iran to stop deliveries to Russia not only of the drones it uses against Ukraine, but also of drone components.

At the same time, the source of the publication in the Iranian government claims that Tehran, which officially denies the use of its drones in Ukraine, has repeatedly asked Moscow to stop using them in the war, but Washington wants “more concrete steps.”

Anthony Blinken, US Secretary of State, said on Tuesday that the US is pursuing a strategy of deterrence, pressure and diplomacy to ensure Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons and hold Tehran accountable for violating human rights and “providing drones to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine”.

The negotiators hope that the parties will agree to de-escalation. For Iran, this would mean agreeing not to enrich uranium more than 60%, improve cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and promise not to persecute the Americans.

Washington, for its part, will refrain from imposing new sanctions in some areas other than those related to human rights, and will not overly control already imposed sanctions on oil sales. It will also allow Tehran access to $6 billion of frozen oil funds held in South Korea. They will be transferred to an account in Qatar, where there will be control over whether they will be used for sanctioned goods.

Iran wants the US to convince its European allies to ease pressure on the country. He fears the UK, Germany and France, which signed the “nuclear deal” in 2015, may seek to reinstate some sanctions after its provisions to curb Iran’s ballistic missile program expire in October.

The United States and Iran have reached agreements on most issues, but discussions, in particular on Russia, will continue in Qatar and Oman, the Financial Times notes.

Source link