TEHRAN – Iran today renewed its call for the US to lift all sanctions imposed by former president Donald Trump, after an offer for talks from new President Joe Biden’s administration.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that Iran would “immediately reverse” its retaliatory measures if the US “unconditionally & effectively” lifted all Trump administration sanctions.
The Biden administration yesterday offered talks with Iran led by European allies and reversed two largely symbolic steps against Tehran imposed by Trump, as it sought to salvage the landmark 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal.
Ahead of a Sunday deadline set by Iran for it to restrict some access to UN nuclear inspectors unless Trump’s sanctions are ended, new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned jointly with European powers that the move would be “dangerous”.
The P5 – UN Security Council powers Britain, China, France, Russia and the US – plus Germany sealed the 2015 deal brokered by then president Barack Obama under which Iran drastically scaled back its nuclear programme in exchange for promises of economic relief.
Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sweeping sanctions, aiming to bring Iran to its knees.
Despite a senior Biden administration official insisting that the White House was engaging in good faith, the US president has warned Iran that his predecessor’s sanctions will not be removed until Tehran returns to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.
Meanwhile, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi is to travel to Tehran tomorrow for talks with Iranian authorities to find a solution. – AFP, February 19, 2021
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