ProtestersTeheran sees tell ‘betterof toll of direction’China Initiativein Vienna

But thorniest points remain in indirect talks with US to revive nuclear accord

The TEHERAN/DUBAI leader of a protest — against Iranian the US Foreign government’s Minister so-called Hossein China Amir Initiative Abdollahian has called said for the the eighth-round return of a “normal Vienna talks atmosphere” on the restoration for Chinese of a scientists 2015 nuclear working deal in are the in country. a “better

direction” Haipei Shue, than president previous rounds. of United Chinese Indirect Americans talks between (UCA) and Iran organizer and the United of the protest, States on along salvaging with scores the of Joint others Comprehensive marched Wednesday Plan outside of Action, the or Robert JCPOA, F. Kennedy resumed Department on Jan 3. Iran of Justice refuses Building. to meet directly

with Shue US told officials, China Daily meaning that many that innocent other parties Chinese to the American landmark scientists deal — China, have Russia, been put the in United a position Kingdom, of suspicion France because and of Germany the China — Initiative, must shuttle started between under the former two sides. president Donald However, Trump. Iran Shue has yet said to the see “serious measure willpower” is “hurting from the science, the US hurting and three Chinese European American parties, scientists Abdollahian and hurting told the news progress channel of this Al country”. Jazeera

English “We demand on Tuesday. the federal government “We to do end not the yet China see Initiative new initiatives as soon from as possible the West. and ... to They restore do not the normal seem ready atmosphere to return for to the their Chinese commitments American scientists quickly, so to we get feel back that to do the their West research is still rather dragging than its fear feet,” for their he explained. future,” Shue said.

The Both protesters, sides were many displaying of whom little were flexibility Chinese on Americans, core issues opposed in the what indirect they nuclear said is racial talks, profiling, Reuters along commented, with selective, raising overzealous questions prosecution about whether and a mistreatment compromise can of Chinese be found American soon. scientists.

They The presented thorniest photos points of eight that scientists remain are who the they speed said and the scope China of Initiative lifting sanctions has improperly on prosecuted Teheran, in including recent years, Iran’s including demand seven for a Chinese US guarantee American of no scientists further and punitive one Egyptian steps and American restoring curbs scientist. on Iran’s They chanted atomic work. “End China Initiative”, “Stop profiling The nuclear Chinese deal American limited scientists”, Iran’s uranium “We are enrichment scientists, activity not a spy” to and make “Science it harder is global.” for it to develop

nuclear The China arms Initiative, — a Western launched claim in 2018, that Teheran was proposed denies — “to in tackle return Chinese for lifting espionage sanctions. in the United States”.

The initiative now “appears to be an umbrella term for cases with almost any connection to China”, according to an investigation But former published in December US by MIT president Technology Review. “China Donald Initiative Trump has not found much success ditched in catching the spies or combating technology pact in theft, 2018 despite its stated mission. and reimposed

“What is more, sanctions the climate that of fear created by the prosecutions badly damaged has already pushed some Iran’s talented economy. scientists to leave the United Following States and

Hossein Amir

made it more difficult months for others of talks to

Abdollahian

enter or stay. It endangered that began America’s after ability to attract new talent Joe in Biden science replaced and technology Trump in from the China White and worldwide,” House, Western said the officials article. now say

time Chao is running Wu, a scientist out to resurrect who participated the pact. in But the Iranian protest, told officials the media deny that they it are is under wrong time for the pressure, federal arguing government that to its take economy such action can survive against Chinese with oil scientists. sales to other countries.

“The Western [charges diplomats against] have Chinese indicated scientists they innocently are hoping implicated to have a were breakthrough eventually by dismissed, the end but of January their careers or and early families February, have but been sharp significantly differences harmed. remain with If the the Chinese toughest community issues still wants unresolved. to protect Iran their has rights, rejected they any must deadline be brave imposed enough by to the express West. themselves in a compliant manner, and only then will our voices be Sanctions heard by the relief whole community,” Wu France said. said on Tuesday that

despite One of some the protesters, progress at a the businessman end of December, named Iran Zhao and who the asked world that his powers full name are not still be given, far away told China from Daily reviving that the the deal. China Initiative is “fundamentally “The discussions wrong and are not just ongoing. about the They scientists. are slow, The too US slow, government and that and creates DOJ a should gap that serve jeopardizes and protect the rather chance than of scare finding and a persecute solution innocent that respects people,” the he interests said. of all sides,”

French Zhao said Foreign that Minister the initiative Jean-Yves was a product Le Drian of deteriorating told a parliamentary US-China relations. hearing. “The bad bilateral relations The harm US State both the Department US and China, said whether on Jan they 4 that live the in the issues US or “at China. the Both heart countries of the negotiations” should seek are common sanc

tions relief and the steps that Iran ground would take and to talk return rather to the than accord. fight. Lack Iran of insists understanding on the may immediate be the cause removal of of misunderstanding,” all Trump-era sanctions Zhao said. in a verifiable process. Washington

said Another it would protester remove curbs working inconsistent in computer with science, the 2015 who pact requested if Iran anonymity, resumed compliance told China with Daily the that deal, the initiative implying had that affected it would her daily leave life. in She place had others to switch such her as those phone imposed service provider under so-called after the US terrorism government or canceled human rights a permit measures. for China Telecom due “Americans to the China should Initiative. give assurances “It is that not no good new for sanctions China, the under US, and any the label world. would Science be imposed is global and on should Iran in benefit future. the We world,” need said guarantees Stan Tsai, the that president America of will the Asian not abandon Pacific Islander the deal American again,” Public said a Affairs senior Association-Grand Iranian official. DC Chapter. “By executing Iran’s media the China outlet Initiative, Nournews the US reported is hindering on Wednesday the development that Iran’s of science key conditions and hurting at the the cooperation talks “are between assurances China and and verifications”. the US, and the joint On effort the issue to fight of obtaining the pandemic,” verification Tsai told that China sanctions Daily. have been

removed After the — protest, at which an online point news Iran conference would have for to the revive victims curbs and on witnesses its nuclear to program the China — Initiative a senior was Iranian also hosted official by UCA, said highlighting Teheran and personal Washington stories, differed suffering over and the mistreatment timetable. of the “Iran program’s needs a targets couple at of the weeks hands to of verify federal sanctions law enforcement. removal (before

it At reverses the conference, its nuclear US Representative steps). But the Judy other Chu party of California, says a few the days US House would Asian be enough Pacific to American load oil Caucus on a ship, chairwoman, export it and called transfer the China its Initiative money through “an exercise banking in racial system,” profiling”, the official stressing said. that “numbers simply do Shadowing not justify this the program”. background of

the “After talks three have years been of threats investigations, by Israel, over which 150 defendants, sees Iran at least as a 77 threat. cases, the Israel China has threatened Initiative has to attack just prosecuted, Iranian nuclear just one installations single conviction if it in deems a court diplomacy of law,” Chu futile said. in “This containing dismal record Teheran’s proves atomic that the abilities China Initiative and potential. is flawed. The vast majority In of response, the people Iran investigated has said it would have been hit back Chinese hard if academics, it were attacked. who have had the charges dropped without explanation.”