President Biden and Iran: assessing the prospects for returning to the JCPOA

Abstract

The article analyzes the positions of the United States and Iran in the negotiations on the renewal of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), assesses the most serious differences in the approaches of the parties, and suggests possible changes in the process of dialogue ongoing in Vienna with the participation of all countries that have signed a nuclear agreement with Tehran. Despite many controversial actions and statements coming from senior Iranian leaders, it seems that Tehran was ready for a quick return to the JCPOA, but Washington was unable to resume compliance with the terms of the original agreement. The scientific hypothesis of the author is that what is happening between Iran and the United States is a confrontation between two points of view. The United States ignores the norms of international law and tries to impose its policy in the interests of maintaining its hegemony in the world. Iran believes that the UN-approved JCPOA must be respected by all parties without exception. In the author's opinion, the Biden administration's hopes of reaching a better agreement, with amended provisions on Iran's regional policy and its missile programs, are currently unrealistic and that the window for continued dialogue will not be open for long. Domestic opposition to Biden's policies hinders JCPOA revival.