Nuclear deal with Iran ‘still possible’

AMERICA’S RETURN to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran remains possible, but both sides need to be prepared to negotiate, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has said.

The US pulled out of the deal unilaterally in 2018 under Donald Trump, but President Joe Biden has indicated Washington would be willing to rejoin.

Complicating the matter, however, Iran has been steadily violating the restrictions of the deal, like the amount of enriched uranium it can stockpile and the purity to which it can enrich it.

Its moves have been calculated to put pressure on the other nations in the deal – Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain – to do more to offset crippling sanctions reimposed under Mr Trump.

Tehran has said that before it resumes compliance with the deal, the US needs to return to its own obligations under the deal by dropping the sanctions.

Asked about Iran’s insistence that the US take the first step, International Atomic Energy Agency director General Rafael Grossi said in a video appearance before three European Parliament committees that “it takes two to tango”.

He noted that over the past two years Iran has accumulated a lot of nuclear material and new capacities, and honed its skills.

“Even if you had a magic wand or the hand of God and said we go back tomorrow, there will be a lot of housekeeping,” he said.

Mr Grossi said he had been talking to both sides in his agency’s “impartial neutral role” and believed a US return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action deal was possible.

THE NEXT census is this coming Sunday.

Census 2021 is a digital first census. You will be able to complete the questionnaire on your tablet, smartphone or computer.

Every household should have been sent a letter with a digital access code to allow online access for all members of that household.

Digital access has been made as easy to follow as possible. But don’t worry if you are not able to complete online, as paper copies can still be supplied. Help will also be available at census support centres, on the phone and online.

All information is stored anonymously, so there is no risk of being identified from anything you write on the questionnaire.

More information at census.gov.uk