Reviving the nuclear deal - formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - looked close in August following a proposed European Union “final” text. However, Iran’s violent crackdown on the protests that engulfed the country following the death of Zhina (Mahsa) Amini while in police custody in September led to a barrage of condemnations and sanctions from the international community, also putting on pause the talks aimed at restoring the deal.
“There has been no discussion of resuscitating the JCPOA. That is not on the agenda. It hasn’t been on the agenda when we’ve engaged with partners and it hasn’t been on the agenda when we’ve engaged indirectly with the Iranians,” Ned Price told Rudaw’s Diyar Kurda during a press briefing on Monday.
Price stressed that what the US wants to convey the Iranians is “three simple messages” which are “stop killing your people, stop providing UAV technology to Russia, and release the wrongfully detained American citizens.”
At least 529 protesters, including 71 children, have been killed and over 19,700 have been arrested since the protests began, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) on Monday.
The Iranian regime has also come under attack amid reports of supplying drones to Russia in the war against Ukraine.
There are a number of dual and foreign nationals being held in Iranian prisons on charges of spying for foreign governments with rights groups accusing Tehran of using them as bargaining chips to gain concessions from world powers.
