Nuclear Negotiations: The Perpetual Deja Vu Paradox
This latest revelation – that Iran prefers a bilateral, 'nuclear-only' discussion with the US, possibly hosted by Oman instead of Turkey – is framed by Al-Monitor as a 'frustration' for mediators. Curiously, this 'frustration' seems to be a recurring feature of US-Iran relations, not a bug. FIRST INSTANCE: The Original 'Narrow Scope' Gambit (1990s) The concept of 'nuclear-only' talks, and the
insistence on bilateralism, isn't a recent innovation. Following the Iran-Iraq War and revelations about Iran's nascent nuclear program, covert channels and 'track two' diplomacy in the 1990s often saw Iran attempting to compartmentalize discussions. The aim then, as now, was to isolate the nuclear file from broader regional security concerns, human rights, or ballistic missile development. This
was notably apparent during discussions facilitated by European intermediaries, where Iran consistently sought to keep the focus squarely on its declared nuclear infrastructure (Then: nascent research. Now: uranium enrichment to near-weapons grade levels. Source: IAEA, 2024). REPETITIONS: The Echoes of Geneva and Vienna (2000s-2010s) Fast forward to the pre-JCPOA era. Throughout the 2000s,
especially during the P5+1 negotiations that eventually led to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran repeatedly pushed for a narrow interpretation of mandates. Each new round of sanctions or diplomatic pressure from the US would be met with an Iranian proposal to focus 'solely' on nuclear safeguards, while defiantly advancing its enrichment capabilities. The 2013-2015 negotiations