Each Side Refuses To Blink on JCPOA; Cabinet Nominees Largely Stick to Scripts
Both Admins Still Affirming Desire to Return, But No Clarity on First Moves
Less than a few hours after Joe Biden was inaugurated, his team was questioned on the prospects of the U.S. returning the JCPOA, setting up an indirect back and forth between the two governments on who should take the first steps to initiate a return.
President Biden spoke very lightly on foreign policy in his inaugural address, but other administration officials spoke on the issues. When asked in her first press briefing on Biden’s plans for the Iran file, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, “the President has made clear that he believes that through follow-on diplomacy, the United States seeks to lengthen and strengthen nuclear constraints on Iran and address other issues of concern. Iran must resume compliance with significant nuclear constraints under the deal for that to proceed.”