Iran Nuclear Talks Reach a Critical Juncture

The lack of progress in resumed Iran nuclear talks shows that the potential for negotiations collapsing without a deal is steadily increasing under Tehran’s more hard-line president. U.S., Iranian and European negotiators met in Vienna on Dec. 9 for what was their eighth round of nuclear talks this year and the second round since Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi took office in August. The seventh round of negotiations to restore the 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), concluded last week with Iran submitting draft demands adjusting what it agreed to during the previous six rounds of 2021 talks....