If you don’t mind, a separate question. I was wondering if the U.S. has anything to say about the situation politically in Pakistan. Imran Khan, there are some charges that have been placed against him, the former prime minister, and also a decision not to – an order not to air his remarks in the media on satellite TV. Is there anything that the United States wants to say about that? Thank you.
The report follows the unclassified U.S. National Intelligence Council assessment of Russia’s filtration operations and other recent Conflict Observatory products that document damage to Ukraine’s hospitals, schools, churches, museums, archives, and other civilian objects.
And with that, I’m happy to open it up to questions. Operator, if you wouldn’t mind sharing instructions again.
MR PATEL: Thanks, Matt. So I will just reiterate what I’ve said previously, that of course it would be preferable for us to return to a full implementation of the JCPOA without any safeguards issues, but the power to achieve that is fully in Iran hands. And again, to say like I said before, we have been clear that we don’t believe there should be any conditionality between reimplementation of the JCPOA and investigations related to Iran’s legal obligations under both the NPT and its comprehensive safeguards agreement as well.
QUESTION: Thank you. Hi, Vedant. While the State Department is laser focused on the JCPOA talks, about an hour ago or less the Treasury Department issued a general license for Iranian students, allowing for any U.S. academic institution giving online educational services and providing them with the necessary software. I know this is not part of the Vienna talks, the negotiations that the U.S. says it doesn’t want to talk anything outside of that framework, but since these students have been issued visas by the State Department, could you tell me anything – why this change? And obviously the State Department must have been advised or consulted by the Treasury on this decision. Thank you.
QUESTION: Yeah, thank you Vedant for doing the call. I have two questions. Were you able, first, to convince Israel and U.S. allies in the region that they will be better off with Iran nuclear deal?
The broad assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is clear, as are Russia’s destructive ambitions, and we are keeping a focus on these abuses. The people of Ukraine deserve justice, and together with them, we too demand it.
OPERATOR: Your line is open. Please, go ahead.
MR PATEL: Thanks, Simon. So members of Congress and elected officials have gone to Taiwan for decades and will continue to do so, and this is in line and is consistent with our longstanding “one China” policy. I’d refer you to the delegation for any other specifics on their travel.
So nearly every day, we see new and credible reports of Russia’s forces committing horrific atrocities against individuals, families, and communities as President Putin’s devastating and unjustifiable war against Ukraine continues. As we’ve said before, President Putin and all those who commit heinous acts must be held to account for violations of international law. The United States is supporting reporting and accountability efforts through a multifaceted approach.
And on the – and on your second question, what I would say about the airstrike – and again, I would reiterate that our colleagues at the Pentagon can speak to some of this additionally – is that whether or not there is a deal, the President’s commitment to protect U.S. personnel and confront Iran’s activities that jeopardize our people or our partners in the region is unwavering. The nuclear deal has nothing to do with our readiness and ability to defend our people and our interests.
MR PATEL: Thanks for your question, Nike. Visa records are confidential under U.S. law, therefore I can’t discuss the details of individual visa cases. But I would reiterate what we’ve said before that as a host nation of the UN, the U.S. is generally obligated under the UN Headquarters Agreement to issue visas to representatives of UN member states to travel to the UN headquarters district. The U.S. takes seriously its obligations as a host country of the UN, but again, visa records are confidential, and therefore I can’t get into anything else.
OPERATOR: Your line is open. Please, go ahead.
QUESTION: Hi, there. Thanks, Vedant. I wasn’t going to ask a question, but your response to the last question on the IAEA safeguards inspections prompted me to ask this question, and that is: You guys keep saying that there is no conditionality between closing this file and the implementation, or there should be no conditionality between closing these – this investigation and the implementation of the deal. And you present this as though it is some tough, hardline stance that the United States has.
MR PATEL: Thanks, Laurie, and apologies for the mispronunciation. My bad. So to take a little bit of a step back and to widen the aperture, absent a deal we will continue to use our sanctions authorities to limit exports of petroleum, petroleum products, and petrochemical products from Iran, and we’ll address any effort at sanction evasion. The framework of U.S. sanctions on Iran remains robust and continues to have a very clear impact. Iran’s macroeconomic figures clearly bear this out. We have used our sanctions authorities to respond to Iranian sanction evasion efforts and will continue to do so. We have seen reports about increased oil revenue. I can’t confirm the accuracy of those claims. But I would note that oil export figures fluctuate regularly over time based on prices and changes in methodology.
QUESTION: Thank you so much for taking my call. Quick questions on Iran. Does the United States plan to issue visas for Iran’s President Raisi and his entourage? UNGA is approaching. Can you confirm or rule out that he’s attending UNGA? Thank you.
MR PATEL: Thanks. Let me answer the first part first. So our position on this has been quite clear, and we have communicated this repeatedly in public and in private to Iran. Iran needs to answer the IAEA’s questions. That is the only way to address these issues. Once the IAEA director general reports to the board of governors that the outstanding issues have been clarified and resolved, we expect them to come off the board’s agenda, but not before that. We’ve also been clear that we do not believe there should be any conditionality between reimplementation of the JCPOA and the investigations related to Iran’s legal obligations.
QUESTION: Hi. Thanks, Vedant. I wondered if you had a response to the new congressional delegation just arrived in Taiwan led by Marsha Blackburn, Senator Marsha Blackburn. I understand there’s been several of these delegations. What advice is the State Department giving to members of Congress who come to you and ask whether they should visit Taiwan and what advice was given in this case? And is there any concern given the – China’s reactions to previous – the previous visits that continued visits, repeated visits is – could potentially inflame the situation? Thanks.
Next let’s go to Laurie Mylroie with Kurdistan 24.
Next let’s go to Laurie Mylroie with Kurdistan 24.
Next let’s go to Laurie Mylroie with Kurdistan 24.
Today, the Conflict Observatory also released a new analysis of sites it identified as associated with Russia’s brutal filtration operations. The Conflict Observatory was able to make these identifications based on a combination of overhead imagery, traditional news media sources, and accounts of these activities shared via social media.
QUESTION: Hi. Thanks. Two questions, Vedant. Does the State Department have any comment on the Myanmar military junta detaining a former British ambassador there?
QUESTION: Thank you for doing this and thank you for taking my question. Very quickly, I know I saw the statement that you guys issued after the meeting of Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman with the Israeli National Security Advisor Hulata. And I saw that there was a reference to the Palestinian issue and to the organizations and so on. Can you tell us whether the deputy secretary received any kind of clarification on the Israeli position or there any evidence and so on? And what was her – his response on this issue?
OPERATOR: Your line is open. Please, go ahead.
But look, the United States has continued to act in a – in a way that is responsible, steady, and resolute. Our policy towards Taiwan has remained consistent for decades across administrations, and we remain committed to our “one China” policy. We’re going to continue to take calm and resolute steps to uphold peace and stability in the region and to support Taiwan in line with our longstanding policy.
But to take a little bit of a step back, it is clear that Russia’s shelling and seizure of Ukraine’s power plants and infrastructure are part of its strategy to create energy crises in Europe. We strongly condemn any action at ZNPP or elsewhere that impacts the health and welfare of civilians throughout the region. The situation at ZNPP is the result of Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine, its control of and dangerous military presence at the power plant, and its unwillingness to turn control of the plant back to Ukraine for safe and secure operations.
On the second part of your question, again I’m just not going to read out specific engagements with our allies and partners beyond reiterating what I’ve said, which is that our engagements with allies and partners, including those in Israel, continue to be a key tenet of our process with the JCPOA. And we continue to fully believe that a mutual return to compliance is not only in the national security interest of the United States, it’s the best step to contain Iran’s nuclear program but will offer benefits in the region as well.
Let’s next go to the line of Michel Ghandour.
Let’s next go to the line of Michel Ghandour.
Let’s next go to the line of Michel Ghandour.
Let’s next go to the line of Michel Ghandour.
Let’s next go to the line of Michel Ghandour.
MR PATEL: Thanks for your question. So first and foremost, I will reiterate what we’ve said previously on this, that Turkey tins to be a important NATO Ally and has played an integral role in continuing to hold Russia accountable for its barbaric actions in Ukraine. But to be clear, this administration will not express any support for efforts to normalize or rehabilitate Bashar al-Assad. The U.S. does not intend to upgrade our diplomatic relations with the Assad regime and we don’t support other countries normalizing their relations, either.
OPERATOR: Your line is open. Please, go ahead.
And he’s failed in that goal. Ukraine has not and will not be conquered. It will remain sovereign and independent, and as this war stretches on, the courage and strength of Ukraine’s military and its people become even more evident and even more extraordinary. They will do whatever it takes to protect their homes, their families, their fellow citizens, their country. Ukraine’s talks with Russia are not stalled because Ukraine has turned its back on diplomacy. They’re stalled because Russia continues to wage a war.
OPERATOR: Your line is open. Please, go ahead.
We’ve said this before, but no country should turn a nuclear power plant into an active war zone, and we oppose any Russian efforts to weaponize or divert energy from the plant. To be very clear, the ZNPP and the electricity that it produces rightly belongs to Ukraine, and any attempt to disconnect the plant from the Ukrainian power grid and redirect to occupied areas is unacceptable.
