Sullivan: Ball is in Iran’s Court on Nuclear Negotiations

Iran

December 8th, 8:30am

Asharq Al-Awsat

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan addresses the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, US October 26, 2021. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the presidents of the United States and Russia - two of the six major powers in the 2015 nuclear deal along with Britain, China, France, and Germany - had a "productive" discussion about Iran on Tuesday. President Joe Biden held a secure video call with President Vladimir Putin, said Sullivan. “Russia and the United States actually worked well together, even in tense circumstances back in the 2014-2015 period, to produce the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. This is an area where Russia and the United States can continue to consult closely to ensure that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon,” he said. Talks on reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are expected to resume on Thursday. "The more Iran demonstrates a lack of seriousness at the negotiating table, the more unity there is among the P5+1 and the more they will be exposed as the isolated party in this negotiation," he told reporters, referring to the six powers. “So really, the ball is in Iran’s court as to whether it wants to show up and demonstrate that it’s going to be serious or not,” he said. “An Iran with a nuclear weapon is going to be a greater menace in partnerships with its proxies than Iran without one. And so it is our determination to ensure they never get a nuclear weapon, and diplomacy is the best way forward,” he added, in response to a question.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3347966/sullivan-ball-iran%E2%80%99s-court-nuclear-negotiations