Iran’s Zarif Offers Way Out of Nuclear Deal Impasse With US

Zarif said there is a way to coordinate sanctions relief with Iran returning to compliance with the restrictions set by the JCPOA

In an interview with CNN on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif was asked how the US and Iran could revive the 2015 nuclear deal since each side is calling on the other to act first.

“There can be a mechanism to basically either synchronize it or coordinate what can be done,” Zarif said. He noted that the JCPOA created a Joint Commission headed by the EU foreign policy chief, who is now Joseph Borrell.

Zarif said the Joint Commission could oversee the return to the deal. He said Borrell could “sort of choreograph the actions that are needed to be taken by the United States and the actions that are needed to be taken by Iran.”

The Biden Administration has said the US would only return to the JCPOA by lifting sanctions on Iran after the Islamic Republic returned to its commitments under the deal.

Zarif and other Iranian officials have said the Biden administration must lift sanctions first since the US was the party that violated the deal. After receiving sanctions relief, Iran would quickly comply with the JCPOA.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh also discussed the JCPOA on Monday. He reiterated Iran’s stance and said the US must return to full compliance with the deal by lifting economic sanctions.

“We’re waiting for US action to effectively undo sanctions, give us access to our own funds, permit easy oil exports and allow the transfer of oil revenue, shipping, and insurance,” Khatibzadeh said.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.