CGTN's Sepehr Saremi spoke with Sasan Karimi, Assistant Professor Faculty of World Studies at the University of Tehran. Professor Karimi says progress of nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S. are heavily dependent on realistic expectations and trust, which he believes is in short supply.
SEPEHR SAREMI Tehran "Professor, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with CGTN. Professor, how significant is the second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran?
SASAN KARIMI Assistant Professor Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran "I think the second or third or fourth or whatever number of rounds of the negotiation between Iran and the United States matter, because of the content, not because of the numbers. Iran is not in a hurry. I think the United States better not to be a hurry either. If the United States want not to have a premature deal, it is better to not be over-demanding in the beginning because both sides know the positions of the other party and it is not the time to be over-demanding or not realistic, both sides and also other players need to put their feet on the ground and then go forward."
SEPEHR SAREMI Tehran "Professor, why do you think this time Geneva was chosen as the venue of the negotiations? Does it really matter?"
SASAN KARIMI Assistant Professor Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran "It matters. Sometimes, the mediator matters. Omanis are very good in mediation. But geographically, they are not in the middle. Oman is the host of this round of negotiations also, but in Geneva, Geneva is a good place because it is a place for the European base of the United Nations. This is some sort of neutrality. Geographically, Europe is in the middle, so it is not that much difficult for Americans to come every week."
SEPEHR SAREMI Tehran "Professor, in your opinion, what are the main obstacles to reaching a deal?"
SASAN KARIMI Assistant Professor Faculty of World Studies, University of Tehran "The main obstacle is mistrust, mutual mistrust. We cannot forget that Iran witnessed a kind of illegal withdrawal from the United States of Donald Trump in his first term, from the JCPOA, which was the most optimum deal, only because of the internal competition between Obama and Donald Trump. Donald Trump wanted a deal, a Trump deal, not the JCPOA with better terms for the United States, etc. So politically and psychologically, it can be understandable, but from Iran's point of view, it is not a valid or reliable party to be able to talk with in a constructive or trustful way. From the United States also, they have their own considerations. A technical obstacle is being over-demanding. I think that in order to reach a deal, even a political agreement, both sides need to come to the earth. Iran should not stick to the exact terms of JCPOA, and the United States should not also stick to its primary positions."
