WASHINGTON — For the last eleven months, diplomats from several countries, including the U.S., Russia, and China, have been negotiating to revive the Iran Nuclear Deal, which former President Trump pulled the U.S. out of under his administration.
This month, it appeared talks were making significant progress and possibly close to a deal.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and pretty much the rest of the world have sanctioned Russia so severely that it has crippled their economy. This week, Russia threw a monkey wrench into the Iran talks by demanding that a nuclear deal include provisions that do not hinder its trade with Iran.
Essentially, the Russians might be using the Iran Nuclear Deal talks to try and get western powers to lift sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.
“Relaxing any sanctions, and removing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s designation as a terrorist group, would be akin to pouring gasoline on this situation,” said Sen. Todd Young (R-IN).
He and many Republicans in Congress are worrisome that a “bad” nuclear deal similar to the previous one in 2015 might be in the works, especially if Russia continues its demands.
“The Iranians have continued to terrorize their neighbors and develop nuclear capability,” Young said. “There should be no doubt whatsoever that Iran would use these additional resources, that evidently are being offered to them, to support terror groups around the region.”
Young said if the old deal is revived it would bring a “power competition” to the Middle East and would ultimately lead to a nuclear enriched Iran.
