Description: In line with recent information obtained from the fifth round of nuclear negotiations, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the media is speculating around a potential agreement and both countries were still actively negotiating. Araghchi dismissed the speculations by further stating that substantial progress has been made but the sides were not yet closing in on a final agreement. Recent propositions floated the idea of dispatching international inspectors from the IAEA and several countries from the Middle East, to monitor Iran’s nuclear compliance in return for the easement of sanctions which according to the Omani mediators represented a substantiated proposition which needs to be taken into consideration. Iran has remained adamant in their demands to retain their uranium enrichment program for the purposes of energy security and stability. Israel has reportedly continued preparations for an imminent aerial attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities despite warnings from the US. Both countries are awaiting the sixth round of mediated talks scheduled for next week.
Impact: The diplomatic and political posturing across the media between the US and Iran continues to fuel distrust in the nuclear negotiations reaching a potential resolution of the dispute. Despite recent misconceptions regarding an uncoordinated effort from the US and Israel, both countries are pressuring Iran into making concessions in order to cripple the country’s nuclear ambitions and prevent it from weaponizing itself. The US is pressuring Iran with sanctions and through diplomatic channels while Israel’s military posturing continues to represent a military threat to Iran. Iran’s position has remained unchanged regardless of the pressure and threats, which signals an uncompromising position going into the sixth round of negotiations. The US side would have to carefully maneuver around shelving next resolution proposals if Iran is set to likely accept joint inspections comprised of Middle Eastern and IAEA inspectors with the other negotiating points remaining to be resolved, such as the country’s funding of proxy groups in Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.