The U.S. State Department notified Congress of sanctions waivers, revoked in 2020, for JCPOA-related civilian nuclear projects in Iran. “The waiver… is designed to facilitate discussions that would help to close a deal on a mutual return to full implementation of the JCPOA and lay the groundwork for Iran’s return to performance of its JCPOA commitments”, the notification read. “It is also designed to serve U.S. nonproliferation and nuclear safety interests and constrain Iran’s nuclear activities… It is being issued as a matter of policy discretion with these objectives in mind, and not pursuant to a commitment or as part of a quid pro quo”. France, Germany and the UK hailed the move and stated that “this should facilitate technical discussions necessary to support talks on JCPOA return in Vienna”. They also urged Iran to “take quick advantage of this opportunity, because the timing of the waiver underscores… [that] we have very little time left to bring JCPOA talks to a successful conclusion”. Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian maintained that “the removal of some sanctions can, in the true sense of the word, translate into the goodwill that the Americans are talking about. What happens on paper is good, but not enough”.