Photo taken on Dec. 17, 2021 shows a meeting of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Joint Commission in Vienna, Austria. (EU Delegation in Vienna/Handout via Xinhua)
TEHRAN, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- As indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States resumed days ago in Vienna, Tehran has reiterated its demand for guarantees from Washington to secure Iran's interests in order to revive a nuclear deal.
The repeated requests indicated Iran's deep distrust of the United States, according to Iranian analysts.
CONTINUOUS CONTRADICTION
Right before the new round of nuclear talks, the United States imposed on Monday fresh sanctions on the firms that it claimed have helped Iran sell oil and petrochemical products.
"They do not give up these useless and destructive measures even at a time when efforts are underway to resume the talks over a return to the Iranian nuclear deal," said Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Tuesday, adding that it clearly exposed the "hypocritical nature" of the United States, he added.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said in June that it was surprising that the current U.S. administration had repeatedly voiced willingness to hold negotiations and reach an agreement on the one hand, and concurrently increased its sanctions against Iran on the other.
"The world should give us every right to refrain from trusting the United States as it is an oath-breaker," said Raisi, slamming Washington for its contradictory behavior toward Tehran and the nuclear talks.
Iranians rally to protest against recent Israeli attacks against Palestinians in Tehran, Iran, May 13, 2021. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua)
CONSISTENT HOSTILITY
An analysis piece published by Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency said that the White House, whether occupied by the Republicans or the Democrats, has always pursued a fixed main policy against Iran -- imposing cruel sanctions on the country's people.
U.S. violation of the Iranian nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), "started in Barack Obama's term when Washington refrained from honoring its financial, banking, insurance and shipping pledges within the framework of the agreement," Mehr quoted Hamidreza Asefi, a former Iranian ambassador to France and Germany, as saying.
The same "destructive" approach was pursued during Donald Trump's term, which eventually resulted in Washington's withdrawal from the JCPOA in May 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, Mehr said.
The article further quoted Malek Shariati, an Iranian lawmaker, as saying that Tehran still cannot trust Washington as its hostile policies against Iran have not changed at all under current U.S. President Joe Biden.
Another Iranian lawmaker Abolfazl Amouei also warned against any optimism about a likely U.S. return to the JCPOA.
A staff adjusts a board showing the rates of currencies at a currency exchange center in central Tehran, Iran, Oct. 14, 2020. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/Xinhua)
ROOT CAUSES
Alireza Rezakhah, a political affairs expert, noted what the United States announces does not necessarily reflect its true objectives and motivations, saying what really forms the Americans' political behavior is their hidden and multilayered policies.
He added the existing double standards in the foreign policies implemented by the United States and the country's mal-performance in honoring its commitments make it really difficult to trust the country.
Political affairs expert Mehdi Torabian told Kurdtoday news website that trusting Washington's pledges has inflicted considerable damage and numerous losses on not only Iran, but also other administrations.
The expert said the Americans' 20-year occupation of Afghanistan and their sudden irresponsible and chaotic withdrawal from the country is one of the examples of U.S. "flagrant failure to fulfill its commitments. ■
