A U.S. diplomatic spokesperson maintained that “the U.S. is prepared to resume indirect talks with Iran, to resume that seventh round of negotiations. We are ready to go if and when the Iranians signal they are as well”. “We understand that the Iranians are still undergoing consultations”, he added. “Iran will have to make tough political decisions, including the strategic decision of whether it’s willing to entertain a mutual return to compliance”. The spokesperson further reaffirmed that “this process is not indefinite… There will come a point where our calculus will change, where the gains that Iran is able to make in its nuclear program, the benefits it accrues might one day outweigh the benefit that the international community would accrue from a mutual return to compliance with the JCPOA. We’re not there yet”.