There is growing speculation that negotiations aimed at restarting the Iran nuclear deal that was finalized in 2015 could be close to success. For months now on-and-off talks have taken place in Vienna aimed at reviving the major international agreement. But, the conflict in Ukraine and other concerns, mainly between Iran and the United States, have prevented a major breakthrough. On Wednesday Iran’s foreign minister said during a visit to Syria that a deal could be close but the United States is publicly less optimistic.

To discuss:

• Barbara Slavin is the Director of the Future of Iran Initiative at the Atlantic Council.
• Mohsen Milani is the Executive Director of the Center for Strategic and Diplomatic Studies at the University of South Florida
• Pavel Felgenhauer is a Defense analyst and Columnist for the Novaya Gazeta.
• Andy Mok is a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization 

For more: 

After 11 months of on-and-off nuclear talks in Vienna, the U.S. and Iran say only a very small number of issues remain to be resolved. Meanwhile, Russia appears to have backed down on a threat to crater an agreement over Ukraine-related sanctions. https://t.co/2yXtiuScMY

— The Associated Press (@AP) March 17, 2022

British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and dual national Anoosheh Ashoori arrived in Britain from Iran, ending an ordeal during which they became a bargaining chip in Iran's talks with the West over its nuclear program https://t.co/Du2KnAdB9z pic.twitter.com/Z1XAkBBkYj

— Reuters (@Reuters) March 17, 2022