NEW | The Iranian regime has insisted that it will not discuss Iran’s nuclear program during the US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland today, which is consistent with Iranian efforts to delay nuclear discussions until the United States meets Iranian demands.

IRGC-affiliated media claimed that Iran’s nuclear program is not on the agenda for the talks and that Iran’s negotiating delegation does not include members of Iran’s “nuclear committee.” The Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson similarly stated that the talks are focused on securing a ceasefire on all fronts, the lifting of sanctions, and the release of frozen Iranian assets.

These comments are consistent with ISW-CTP's assessment on June 20 that Iran would likely use the talks to pressure the United States to compel Israel to halt operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon and to discuss the economic relief components of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding.

Western media reported that the agenda of the talks originally focused on the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions waivers for Iranian oil exports, and the unfreezing of Iranian assets, but that US Vice President JD Vance added Lebanon to the agenda. A diplomat attending the talks similarly told a CBS News correspondent that an “emergency session” regarding Lebanon was added to the agenda.

It is possible that Iran is denying that it will discuss nuclear issues at the talks in order to placate parts of the Iranian regime and population that have insisted that Iran should not engage in any talks with the United States until the United States meets Iran’s demands.

ISW-CTP will provide further analysis about the US-Iran talks in its June 21 update.

点击图片查看原图