EU’s top nuclear negotiator in Iran for high-level talks
Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Enrique Mora speaks to journalists in front of the Coburg palace after a meeting of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna, Austria on November 29, 2021. (Photo by Vladimir Simicek via AFP)
The European Union’s top diplomat responsible for nuclear negotiations with Iran, Enrique Mora, is set to meet with Iranian officials on Wednesday.
The semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) reported that Mora’s visit coincides with the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.
Diplomatic engagement and inauguration ceremony
Mora, who played a crucial role in efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and global powers, including the United States, will attend the inauguration ceremony for President Pezeshkian. The event marks a significant moment in Iran’s political landscape as Pezeshkian, a reformist, aims to secure sanctions relief for the country.
According to ISNA, Mora is scheduled to meet with Abbas Araghchi, a former Deputy Foreign Minister who was instrumental in the original nuclear accord. Araghchi is reportedly a leading candidate for Iran’s Foreign Ministry position in Pezeshkian’s upcoming cabinet.
International attendance and political implications
The inauguration ceremony is set to draw an array of international figures, including the leaders of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad—organizations listed as terrorist entities by the U.S. Also in attendance will be the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Egypt, Qatar, and South Africa.
Significant participation from regional and global powers underscores the geopolitical importance of this event. Notable attendees include Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State, Prince Mansour bin Miteb bin Abdulaziz, and Peng Qinghua, special envoy for China’s President Xi Jinping.
Regional tensions and escalating conflict
Pezeshkian’s presidency begins amid heightened tensions and ongoing conflict in the region. Recent escalations between Israel and Iran and Iran-backed Hezbollah have raised concerns of further destabilization in the region. The conflict has already wreaked havoc in Gaza and intensified fighting along Lebanon’s southern border.
Pezeshkian’s administration is expected to prioritize securing sanctions relief through diplomatic means, leveraging the support of international allies and regional partners. The new president’s approach will be closely monitored by countries, especially as Iran navigates its nuclear ambitions and regional influence.
