Five years after Trump’s exit, no return to the Iran nuclear deal
Al JazeeraNov 26, 2022
The Facts
According to several published reports, the US has restarted informal talks with Iran about releasing American prisoners and slowing the Islamic Republic's growing nuclear program.
White House officials have reportedly traveled to Oman at least three times since talks restarted in New York in December, with Omani officials serving as intermediaries.
The Spin
Republican narrative
It’s already been proven that deals made with Iran do nothing to stop its nuclear program and only allow it to funnel money to terrorist organizations that threaten the US and Israel. These bribes to cool relations with Iran will achieve little more than the polarization of Washington's true allies, Israel and Saudi Arabia, jeopardizing its influence in the region.
Democratic narrative
This is the perfect time for the US to engage Iran as the republic recently began acquiescing to some requests for transparency of its nuclear program from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Biden might not have much support at his back for diplomacy from Iran, but talks are a better alternative to an Iranian nuclear program that’s left to run wild.
Pro-Iran narrative
Iran has the legal right to a peaceful nuclear program. The lifting of some sanctions is welcomed, but not enough. If 2015 nuclear deal is to be reinstated, all sanctions must be removed and the US must not be able to unilaterally leave the deal again.
