Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has called on the United States to take tangible steps, such as unblocking frozen Iranian funds, to rebuild trust and revive the nuclear deal, stressing that decades of mistrust require persistent and positive actions from Washington.

Why It Matters:

Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, has outlined critical steps the U.S. could take to rebuild trust with Iran, emphasizing the importance of tangible actions such as unblocking frozen Iranian funds. These remarks come amidst ongoing discussions on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

 

What He Is Saying:

Araqchi emphasized the following key points during his remarks:

“The release of Iran’s frozen funds, held in various countries under U.S. sanctions, could be one of the first steps to rebuild trust. These funds were unjustly blocked despite Iran honoring its commitments under previous agreements.”

“Trust cannot be restored with one or two actions. It requires persistence, positive measures, and a shift in the U.S. administration’s stance. They know better than anyone what steps they can take to build this trust.”

Araqchi reaffirmed that future negotiations on reviving the JCPOA should remain limited to nuclear issues, avoiding the complications of additional topics.

 

Key Points:

  • Iran demands concrete actions, such as the release of frozen assets, to build trust.
  • Reviving the JCPOA must remain focused on nuclear issues to prevent unnecessary complications.
  • Iran remains open to broader dialogue if positive experiences emerge from nuclear negotiations.

 

What Is Next: A successful JCPOA revival could pave the way for broader discussions on regional and international issues, but only if trust is restored through concrete measures.

 

Go Deeper:

The path ahead: Iran has signaled willingness to engage in potential talks to restore the JCPOA, but progress hinges on the U.S.’s ability to demonstrate genuine commitment.