Money Talks: U.S.-Iran Negotiations in Geneva

As Iran’s top diplomats prepare for the next round of indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States, their emphasis appears to be on economic incentives for the United States. But have they reached this realization too late?

• February 16: Economic newspaper Donya-ye Eqtesad reported:
  • “According to announced news, the next round of negotiations between Iran and the United States will be held in Geneva on Tuesday. According to experts, economic deals can play a very important role in advancing the negotiations and, in a way, guarantee economic gains for both sides.”
  • “Hamid Ghanbari, deputy foreign minister for economic diplomacy at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recently stated in a meeting at the Iran Chamber of Commerce that ‘shared interests in the fields of oil and gas, joint fields, mining investments, and even aircraft purchases have been included in the text of the negotiations.’ According to experts, weakness in the economic annex of the previous nuclear agreement – the JCPOA – was one of the factors that made the U.S. withdrawal from the deal relatively low cost. Ghanbari pointed out that ‘This time, for the agreement to be sustainable, it is essential that the United States also benefit in areas with high and rapid economic returns.’”
  • “Ghanbari explained that the proposed economic sectors should have the least domestic sensitivity, citing examples including energy, oil and gas fields, quick-yield mining investments, urban development, and aircraft purchases. The deputy foreign minister for economic diplomacy also referred to the issue of limited or frozen resources and added: These resources will also be part of the agreement, and their release must be real and usable not merely symbolic or temporary. He continued that this release could occur either step by step or all at once, and Iran could even place debts as collateral to ensure genuine access. Ghanbari emphasized that the negotiations are being seriously pursued with the aim of reaching an agreement, but no domestic agency or institution should halt its normal activities on the pretext of the talks. He said: ‘The country must be prepared for all scenarios while at the same time seriously pursuing negotiations.’”

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