By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-01-17 21:51:32 | Updated at 2025-01-18 00:56:07
3 hours ago
Iran has held its second round of nuclear talks with European powers in as many months, in an encouraging sign after its reformist president, Masoud Pezeshkian, signalled a readiness to enter a new era of engagement. Described as “serious, frank and constructive”, Iran’s January 13 discussion in Geneva with France, Britain and Germany furthered the dialogue to resume negotiations and reach a deal over Tehran’s controversial nuclear programme.
This comes ahead of Donald Trump’s return as US president. In 2018, Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from a multiparty accord promising Iran sanctions relief for guarantees that its nuclear programme was peaceful. The Iran nuclear deal, signed in 2015, is officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
In response to America’s withdrawal, Iran abandoned its commitments under the deal, enriching uranium to 60 per cent and suffering from severe sanctions that have caused over US$1 trillion in economic damage.
But last September, in his debut speech at the UN General Assembly, President Pezeshkian signalled Iran’s readiness to resume negotiations. Together with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi – a close ally of his predecessor Mohammad Javad Zarif, the widely regarded architect of the 2015 deal – Iran’s new government has shown an openness to dialogue in exchange for sanctions relief. This is not just a strategic pivot but a response to economic and geopolitical pressure.
Iran’s motivations for developing nuclear capabilities have been complex, ranging from regime survival to regional influence. But the economic, diplomatic and security pressures are mounting. An examination of these multifaceted pressures reveals why Iran might be genuinely considering abandoning its nuclear ambitions.
After years of sanctions, Iran’s economic crisis has eroded its global and regional leverage. Oil exports are its financial lifeline but even maintaining production capacity would require an estimated US$300 billion in capital infusion to upgrade its ageing infrastructure.
