Iran Says Nuclear Deal Can Be Revived If US Lifts Sanctions

So far, the Biden administration has refused to lift the sanctions reimposed since the US left the deal in 2018

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told Al Jazeera that an agreement could be reached to restore the nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, if the US is willing to lift sanctions.

Iran is calling for the US to lift the sanctions agreed to when the JCPOA was first negotiated and all the sanctions imposed since the Trump administration withdrew from the deal.

“Lifting sanctions means lifting all forms of sanctions stipulated in the nuclear agreement, and the sanctions that Trump reimposed contradict the terms of the agreement,” Amir-Abdollahian said in an interview that was broadcast Thursday.

Because the US withdrew from the deal once already, Iran wants guarantees that it won’t happen again. “We demand guarantees that include not imposing any new sanctions, and not reimposing sanctions after lifting them under any pretext,” Amir-Abdollahian said.

Indirect negotiations between the US and Iran to revive the JCPOA are ongoing in Vienna. Amir-Abdollahian said Iran is hearing “good words” from the US but has yet to see serious actions.

During earlier negotiations with the previous Iranian government, the US and Iran agreed on a draft deal that would lift most major sanctions. But President Biden scuttled the opportunity to salvage the JCPOA by refusing to promise that he would stay in the deal during his term in office.

When the current round of negotiations started at the end of November, the US demanded that Iran accept the draft agreement. But Tehran submitted its own draft proposals on sanctions relief and Iran’s nuclear responsibilities.

On Tuesday, the US State Department said “modest progress” had been made so far in Vienna, which was the first positive comment from Washington since the talks began. Both sides have said the conversations in Vienna are focused on sanctions relief.

Author: Dave DeCamp

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