WASHINGTON: Biden administration is expected to weigh in this week on Iran's latest offer to resume its compliance with 2015 Iran nuclear deal, but neither side is offering a definitive path to revive agreement, which has been on life-support since former President Donald Trump withdrew from it in 2018. US officials say they expect to respond to Iran's comments on a European draft proposal as early as Wednesday, after which there is expected to be another exchange of technical details followed by a meeting of joint commission that oversees deal.

New developments, including stepped-up public messaging campaigns by both Tehran and Washington, suggest that an agreement could be near. Despite forward movement, numerous hurdles remain. And key sticking points could still unravel efforts to bring back 2015 deal under which Iran received billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme intended to prevent it from developing an atomic weapon. "I intend to systematically fight implementation of this catastrophic deal and will work with my colleagues to ensure that it is blocked and eventually reversed in January 2025," said Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Latest draft does not include Tehran's demand that US lift terrorism designation of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps and Iran has stepped back from a demand that International Atomic Energy Agency close its investigation into unexplained traces of uranium at three undeclared sites, according to a senior administration official who requested anonymity to discuss ongoing efforts to resurrect deal. Senior administration official said a "deal is closer than it was two weeks ago," but cautioned that outcome remains uncertain "as some gaps remain."

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 25 2022

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