“US, Iran hold 1st indirect talks in bid to save nuclear deal,” Conor Finnegan, ABC, April 6, 2021.
The NYT gets a kind of scoop from the Biden Administration—but the headline doesn’t quite match the news. But note the approval of the Supreme Leader, and remember–sanctions work. “Iran and U.S. Agree on Path Back to Nuclear Deal,” Steven Erlanger, New York Times, April 6, 2021. “The United States and Iran agreed through intermediaries on Tuesday to establish two working groups to try to get both countries back into compliance with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. In a meeting of the current members of the deal in Vienna, all parties agreed to establish one working group to focus on how to get the United States back to the deal by lifting harsh economic sanctions imposed or reimposed after President Donald J. Trump pulled out of the accord in May 2018. The other working group will focus on how to get Iran back into compliance with the accord’s limitations on nuclear enrichment and stockpiles of enriched uranium. … The new working groups are intended to create a road map for a synchronized return of both countries to compliance. But even if there is agreement, verification will take some time given the technical complications and the absence of trust on both sides. .. On Monday, an Iranian government spokesman, Ali Rabiei, said that President Hassan Rouhani and the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were in agreement about nuclear talks. “Everything can happen really quickly in a series of independent but connected synchronized steps,” Mr. Rabiei said, according to official Iranian media.”
But who are they? Names? Rank? Position? “Iran prosecutor says 10 indicted for Ukraine plane shootdown,” AP, April 6, 2021.
SK’s PM remains hostage in time and efforts to free SK’s ship. “PM heading to Iran for talks on seized vessel,” Lee Ji-yoon, Korea Herald, April 6, 2021.
“Iranian Rocket Shipment Enters Syria through Iraq,” Asharq Al-Awsat, April 6, 2021.
“Iran’s ‘resistance economy’ hasn’t worked before and it won’t work now,” Hussain Abdul-Hussain, op-ed, Arab News, April 6, 2021.
The Biden administration, as we have repeatedly said, must first focus on freeing American hostages held by Iran. Do we care about people? This must be done before a single sanction is lifted. “Will Biden’s Return to the Iran Deal Abandon American Prisoners Held There — Again?,” Elliott Abrams, National Review, April 6, 2021.
“Iran Claims Victory Over United States as New Nuke Talks Begin,” Adam Kredo, Washington Free Beacon, April 6, 2021.
“The rise of pseudoscientific Islamic cures in Iran,” Isobel Cockerell, Coda Story, April 6, 2021.