Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Congress demands answers on Biden team's Iran talks during Trump's term

Top Republicans in Congress called on the State Department on Tuesday to immediately explain why key Obama-era diplomats now serving in the Biden administration held back-channel talks with Iran during the Trump years, saying it's crucial that the public learn more about Democrats' closed-door shadow diplomacy with Tehran.

"As I've said, I have concerns about the administration's initial moves, which included making concessions to Iran," he said.

The wildly different views of Democrats' meetings with Mr. Zarif serve as a backdrop for the Biden administration's push for diplomatic engagement with Iran.

Top Biden administration officials have said that a future deal may include issues beyond Iran's nuclear program, including the country's support for terrorism.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said this week that Iran may soon enrich uranium up to 60% - far beyond the 3.67% threshold laid out in the agreement and well past the 20% mark Iran previously pursued.

"The tape recording of our [nuclear] program will be kept in Iran." In a statement Tuesday, U.N. inspectors said they were "Deeply concerned" upon learning that Iran has secretly kept undeclared nuclear material in an unknown location.

IAEA officials noted that Iran over the weekend also agreed to a three-month probation period that modifies some of the new restrictions, but Britain, France and Germany - known as the E3 in diplomatic dealings with Iran - still criticized "The dangerous nature" of Tehran's move.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/23/michael-mccaul-mark-green-question-iran-john-kerry/ 

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