Description: Sources with intimate knowledge of the nuclear talks on the Iranian side have stated that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has floated a proposal for an international joint nuclear venture as a solution to Iran’s disputed nuclear program. The information arrives ahead of the fifth round of negotiations set to take place this weekend in Oman. The concrete details around the proposal would include monitoring the program by international organizations such as the IAEA and the inclusion of other Arab countries which would ensure that Iran’s nuclear enrichment would follow exclusively limitations within the development of a civilian nuclear program rather than a military one. The proposal announcement is complementary to statements from US President Donald Trump, who stated that the US was very close to securing a deal with Iran while visiting Qatar.
Impact: The joint nuclear venture proposal doesn’t represent a new resolution idea to Iran’s disputed nuclear program as it has been proposed previously in 2008 as a method for relieving the repression of US sanctions on Iran’s economy. Facing a fifth round of negotiations both countries haven’t devised any concrete resolution proposals as the military buildup in the region continues. Iran is set to separately negotiate their program with representatives from Europe on Friday, 16 May, as the E3 countries pressure the regime with the snapback sanctions which are set to be reimposed on 18 Oct. The US is unlikely to be persuaded to agree to the joint nuclear venture proposed by Iran since they hold substantially more advantageous position in the negotiations. Iran’s proposal is the regime’s way to pivot away from completely abandoning their nuclear ambitions while facing mounting pressure from the sanctions and the US military threat. Both countries continue to clash diplomatically as the fifth round of talks has an unlikely potential to bring forward any significant breakthroughs.