WASHINGTON, Feb 20, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – US President Joe Biden urged European
powers Friday to work together to curb Iran’s “destabilizing” activities in
the Middle East, a day after committing to rejoin talks on Tehran’s nuclear
ambitions.
Biden told the Munich Security Conference that the United States would
work closely with allies in dealing with Iran after his predecessor Donald
Trump took an aggressive unilateral approach.
“The threat of nuclear proliferation also continues to require careful
diplomacy and cooperation among us,” Biden told fellow leaders via
teleconference.
“That’s why we have said we’re prepared to reengage in negotiations with
the P5+1 on Iran’s nuclear program,” he said, referring to the five permanent
members of the UN Security Council and Germany.
“We must also address Iran’s destabilizing activities across the Middle
East, and we’re going to work in close cooperation with our European and
other partners as we proceed.”
– Opening moves toward talks –
Biden’s remarks came after his administration agreed to return to nuclear
talks with Iran led by European allies, after Trump withdrew from the 2015
agreement which had put a hold Tehran’s nuclear program.
After Trump pulled out in 2018 and aggressively placed sanctions on many
Iranian individuals and organizations to punish the country, the Islamic
republic resumed enrichment and development activities in alleged violation
of the pact.
On Thursday State Department spokesman Ned Price said Washington had
accepted an invitation by the European Union political director Enrique Mora
for an “informal” meeting involving Iran.
Price said the meeting would “discuss a diplomatic way forward.”
At the same time, in an opening gesture, the Biden administration dropped
a push for more sanctions at the UN crafted by Trump, and removed
restrictions on Iranian diplomats accredited to the United Nations in New
York.
Tehran however responded by renewing its demand for US to lift all
sanctions imposed by Trump, maintaining a threat to restrict access to UN
nuclear inspectors.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that Iran would “immediately
reverse” its retaliatory measures if the US lifts “all sanctions imposed, re-
imposed or re-labelled by Trump.”
Earlier Thursday US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned jointly with
European powers that restricting the inspectors would be a “dangerous” move.
– Reversing Trump steps –
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said there was
currently no such thing as P5+1 “because of US withdrawal” from the
agreement.
“Gestures are fine. But to revive P5+1, US must Act: LIFT sanctions. We
WILL respond,” the spokesman tweeted.
A senior US official said the Biden administration was showing good faith
and saw a meeting as the start of a “prolonged path” to restoring and
building on the nuclear accord.
If Iran declines to meet, “I think it would be… unfortunate,” the
official said on condition of anonymity.
Biden was not specific about what he meant by Iran’s destabilizing
activities.
But his comments came in the wake of a missile attack on a military base
housing US and coalition forces in northern Iraq that killed a foreign
contractor working for the US military and injured 14, including a US soldier
and contract workers.
Washington has not laid blamed for the attack. But the missiles appeared
identical to those used by Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups in attacks in
Baghdad.
After the US opening Thursday, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki signaled
that the ball was now in Iran’s court.
Biden reiterated “an openness to having a diplomatic conversation,” using
the same channels of the past with the P5+1 partners, said Psaki.
“We don’t anticipate taking additional steps,” she said.