Biden voices his readiness to resume nuclear talks with Iran

US President Joe Biden has announced his willingness to rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and resolve the issue with the Islamic Republic over its peaceful nuclear program.

Biden, who was addressing diplomats from across the globe on Tuesday at his first speech at the UN General Assembly since taking office, voiced his intention to rejoin the landmark nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in "full" if Tehran does the same.

According to Press TV, he said the US was "working" with China, France, Russia, Britain and Germany to "engage Iran diplomatically and to seek a return to" the JCPOA.

"We're prepared to return to full compliance if Iran does the same," he said.

The world powers held six rounds of indirect talks between the United States and Iran in Vienna to mend the nuclear deal which was broken in 2018 by former US President Donald Trump.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Biden detailed his plan to take the helm as the United States led the international community into a new era focused on diplomacy rather than the American military power as Washington competed with other countries, China in particular.

Biden did not directly mention China as America's adversary but sprinkled implicit references to Beijing throughout his speech.

He said US foreign policy was planned on a new era of vigorous competition, minus the cold war.

Biden emphasized that his administration was committed to strengthening diplomacy with its global allies and partners to work towards a “collective future”, leading them in their efforts to curb China's expansion.

The US president pointed out that 2021 to 2031 was a "decisive decade for our world" that will determine the fate of humanity.

In addition, Biden cited global warming, the COVID crisis and technological advancements as major issues that will determine the future of the globe.

He insisted that new challenges must be tackled with technological innovation and global cooperation, not war.

Biden claimed his decision to end America’s longest war, in Afghanistan, last month had set the table for his administration to shift its attention to intensive diplomacy.

ME