Analysts and journalists worked yesterday to unpack a weekend interview between Reuters and Vann Van Diepen – the U.S.’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Non-Proliferation – in which Van Diepen bluntly declared that there has been no change in Iran’s efforts to illicitly procure components for its nuclear and missile programs.

Asked if he had seen a change in Iranian procurement behavior in the past six to 12 months, a period that has seen a cautious thaw in U.S.-Iranian relations after decades of hostility, Van Diepen replied: “The short answer is no. “They still continue very actively trying to procure items for their nuclear program and missile program and other programs,” he told Reuters in an interview.

“We continue to see them very actively setting up and operating through front companies, falsifying documentation, engaging in multiple levels of trans-shipment … to put more apparent distance between where the item originally came from and where it is ultimately going.”

The Times of Israel contextualized Tehran’s efforts against the backdrop of a recent statement by 200 Iranian lawmakers declaring that ‘the country’s negotiators should not accept any discussion of the military and missile programs,’ a stance that has been repeatedly underlined by top Iranian diplomats.

U.S. officials for their part have consistently maintained that Iran will have to address its missile procurement efforts in any comprehensive agreement, with lead negotiator Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman saying as much to Congress in as many words.

National Journal conveyed Van Diepen’s statements alongside pessimism being expressed by top Iranian officials regarding the prospects for renewed talks between Tehran and the P5+1.

“This round of negotiations compared to the previous ones will be more serious and tougher,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif in televised remarks on Sunday. “We do not expect to come to an agreement.”

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