The administration in the US admits that it maintains quiet talks with Iran on various issues and may even be exploring options for a limited agreement with it in the nuclear field. Furthermore, the administration emphasizes that a return to the original nuclear agreement (JCPPA) is not relevant at this stage, according to answers given to Israel Today" from the US State Department.
According to the spokesperson of the State Department, "We have ways to communicate with Iran on issues of concern, such as the issue of the release of American citizens illegally detained in Iran, but we do not intend to detail them."
The background to these words is Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement at the first cabinet meeting last Tuesday that there is still a possibility that the superpowers will sign a nuclear agreement with Iran.
According to Netanyahu, "Unfortunately, contrary to the popular opinion, that the dangerous nuclear agreement was dropped after the recent events in Iran, I think that this possibility has not yet been finally dropped."
The joint committee discusses the nuclear agreement (archive), photo: E.P.I
Netanyahu's words contradicted what the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, said the day before to the new Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen.
Israel Hayom reported that Blinken told Cohen that as far as the US was concerned, the nuclear deal was off the table. A State Department spokesman repeated the words.
"That's not our focus"
"The JCPOA has not been on the agenda for months. It is not our focus. Since September, our focus has been on standing up for the fundamental freedoms of the Iranian people and against the deepening of Iran's military partnership with Russia and its support for Russia's war in Ukraine," said Washington in response to a request " Israel today".
However, the administration avoided answering whether there are other secret talks with Iran on other aspects of the agreement.
The spokesman confirmed as stated that the US "has ways" to talk to Iran about various issues - apparently this is also a humanitarian channel through Switzerland, which resulted in the release of Western citizens from Iran.
Also, the American representative refrained from answering the question of "Israel Today" "Is the administration discussing with these channels the outlines of an alternative agreement or with Iran?".
According to various reports, the administration is examining alternative features to the agreement, such as stopping Iranian enrichment in exchange for the partial lifting of sanctions, and other options.
As mentioned, the administration refused to rule out such possibilities, in response to the question of "Israel Today".
Biden and Netanyahu, photo: Prime Minister's Office
"Obviously there is a transfer of messages"
Israeli and American officials claim that there is circumstantial evidence that the US has not closed the door to an agreement with Iran. One significant piece of evidence is the US's refusal to demand that European countries activate the "snapback" clause, which means the full return of European sanctions on Iran.
Another evidence is the public positions that leave the door to negotiations open.
"I have not heard that Rob Mali (who is in charge of the Iran issue on behalf of the administration) is meeting with Iranians, but he is talking to the European Union whose representatives are talking to the Iranians, including on the nuclear issue," said Richard Goldberg, a senior advisor to the "League for the Defense of Democracy (FDD) , and formerly the director of the fight against Iranian weapons of mass destruction, in the National Security Council at the White House.
According to Goldberg, "It is clear that there is a back-and-forth transmission of messages. The Iranians have been saying for months that the US is sending messages, so when the administration says that 'the agreement is dead,' it does so because it wants to work in cooperation with the Israelis without Israel objecting, but they do not activate the 'Snapak' and they do not say that they will prevent the lifting of sanctions from Iran in the future.
At the moment there is no possibility of reaching an agreement, but they are not taking it off the table."
most of me
The person in charge of the Iran issue, photo: GettyImages
The US State Department stated that it should be checked with the European countries why they are not activating the "snapback". The Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Ministry refused to respond to Israel's request today.
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us
