Iran signed a 25-year strategic treaty with China, has become a full member of the Shanghai cooperation organization, having spent 15 years as an observer.

“Methods and people may change, but the goals and the framework are fixed.” This is how one lawmaker described the situation with regard to the Rouhani Raeisi transition and the fate of the JCPOA.

The new administration of President Raeisi will be facing a flood of challenges, both foreign and domestic, which it will have to deal with to overcome an exsanguinated economy, collapsed oil market and a rampaging COVID-19 pandemic.

The US government statistics and court documents show the US has sold about 2 million barrels of Iranian crude, after seizing an oil tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.

“We have always witnessed high voter turnout in Iran. Women and men take part in determining their future and destiny through elections. This is the strength of the Islamic republic of Iran.”

Washington does not want to lift all sanctions, only JCPOA-related sanctions, but according to Iran, all sanctions are JCPOA-related and must be removed before full compliance can be entertained by Iran.

While indirect negotiations continue, Washington is attempting to take the upper hand with illogical demands despite the US having unilaterally exited the deal under former US President Donald J Trump.

Despite having previously agreed to lift the nuclear sanctions on Iran it reneged by imposing further sanctions, under the guise of alleged support for terrorism, barring American citizens and companies from investment or trade with Tehran.

The act of sabotage perpetrated at the nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz has been attributed to Israel, with the probable backing of the United States, in an attempt to derail nuclear talks in Vienna.

The sanctions, which were announced while Tehran was taking part in EU mediated talks to revive the JCPOA, came as a shock.