The United States is ready to consider alternative ways to solve the Iranian nuclear problem if the diplomatic path does not work. This was announced on November 20 by Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin during the Manama Dialogue international conference on regional security in Bahrain.
He noted Washington's commitment to a diplomatic solution on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). However, if Tehran is not ready for serious cooperation, the United States will consider all possibilities to ensure its own security.
"Next week, the team of Iranian negotiators should return to Vienna to resume negotiations on a mutual return to the implementation of the JCPOA. We and our partners will return to this dialogue in good faith," Lloyd said during the broadcast on the website The Pentagon.
In his opinion, Iran's actions in recent months have not become encouraging.
On October 27, the official representative of the State Department announced that the United States is ready to resume indirect negotiations with Iran on the JCPOA after resolving a number of outstanding issues. Washington expressed hope that the Iranian side would return to Vienna to resume negotiations "quickly and in good faith."
On October 29, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bakeri called the talks held in Moscow with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov fruitful and positive. During the meeting, the parties discussed the possibility of lifting sanctions against Iran and agreed to continue consultations.
On October 14, White House press Secretary Jen Psaki said that the US authorities are working to resume negotiations on restarting the Iranian nuclear deal.
The JCPOA was concluded in 2015, it assumed the lifting of sanctions in exchange for limiting Iran's nuclear program as a guarantor of Tehran's non-receipt of nuclear weapons. However, in May 2018, the United States announced a unilateral withdrawal from it and the restoration of tough sanctions against Tehran. In response, Iran gradually began to abandon its obligations under the treaty.
