Iran’s rejection of a draft agreement with the United States to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) increases the probability of stalled nuclear talks failing, despite both sides appearing willing to continue negotiations. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) -- which formulates foreign policy -- concluded the draft agreement was inconsistent with the country’s Strategic Action Plan for Lifting Sanctions law, according to a July 20 statement by Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei. Rabiei did not cite any specific issues the SNSC had with the draft agreement, which has not been made public. Nuclear talks with the United States are not expected to resume until at least mid-August after Iranian President-elect Ebrahim Raisi is inaugurated. ...
