The Biden administration announced tonight (light for Saturday) that it has lifted some of the sanctions on the Iranian civilian nuclear sector, in preparation for the final part of negotiations on the United States' return to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
The administration has repealed some waivers of sanctions imposed by the Obama administration during negotiations on the nuclear deal in 2015 and the Trump administration repealed in 2020. This is the first time since returning to negotiations with Iran that the United States has announced the lifting of any sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
The decision was made while negotiating teams returned to Vienna to take part in a critical round of talks that could lead to the signing of Washington's return to the agreement or the dissolution of negotiations.
Sources in Washington told the Associated Press that the decision to repeal the sanctions waivers was intended to push Iran to fully refrain from fulfilling its obligations under the nuclear deal, which it has openly violated since the United States withdrew from the agreement and deepened sanctions on Tehran.
As part of the "maximum pressure" program, the Trump administration repealed the waiver of the "fiber-covered" sanctions, that is, civilian nuclear, and targeted the Iranian civilian nuclear industry, which includes the Bushehr nuclear power plant and another nuclear reactor in Tehran.
Iran, for its part, claims that its entire nuclear project is for civilian purposes only, but findings that have been uncovered in the past, including in the Mossad's operation, have shown that Iran is pursuing a military nuclear program.
While the teams will return to the negotiating table next week, last week it was revealed that disagreements had arisen within the American negotiating team itself.
U.S. media reported that at least three members of the U.S. negotiating team had resigned in protest that the administration was too lenient with its demands from the Islamic Republic.
Relying on information in the Wall Street Journal, two members of the negotiating team, headed by Secretary of State Robert Mali, reportedly withdrew from the talks because they were interested in a "tougher bargaining position with Iran."
In addition to two unnamed team members, it was reported last week that senior staff member Richard Nafio, who was previously the architect of some of the sanctions on the Islamic Republic, has resigned.
Over the weekend it was reported that Nefio left the post in early December because he demanded a stricter line in talks.
At the same time, Tehran has announced that it is ready to meet with Biden's representatives if the need arises in light of potential progress in the negotiations.
This is the first significant development of its kind under the new administration of President Ibrahim Raisi, which indicates a possible rapprochement with the West.
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