JUST IN: Iran Demands US To Lift Sanctions Before Honoring Its Nuclear Deal

"Iran threatens preemptive action" (CC BY-ND 2.0) by safwat sayed

On Sunday, Iran’s supreme leader is demandin the United States to lift all sanctions if it wants Iran to live up to its commitments under its nuclear deal with world powers.

According to reports, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the current supreme leader of Iran, made their first comments on the matter since Biden took office. The supreme leader was quoted saying, “If (the U.S.) wants Iran to return to its commitments, it must lift all sanctions in practice, then we will do verification … then we will return to our commitments.”

In the previous administration, former President Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the 2018 atomic deal. This saw Iran agree to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Biden stated that he would find a way to revive the deal. However, the President insisted that Iran should first reverse its nuclear steps, producing a contest of wills between the nations.

Meanwhile, last Sunday, the supreme leader of Iran added a statement saying, “this is the definitive and irreversible policy of the Islamic Republic, and all of the country’s officials are unanimous on this, and no one will deviate from it,” reiterating Iranian leaders’ past remarks that the U.S. must ease its sanctions before Iran comes back into compliance.

The supreme leader of Iran has the final say on all matters of state in Iran. Including among them is the approved efforts at reaching the nuclear deal in 2015.

As a consequence of what Trump called the “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, the country gradually violated its atomic commitments. It also made further provocations in an effort to increase its leverage and make Biden prioritize a return to the deal as he moves to undo Trump’s legacy.

In his first few weeks in office, Biden signed a series of executive orders that were intended to reverse the steps that Trump made on a wide range of issues, including among them are issues about climate change and immigration.

According to former Deputy National Security Advisor K.T. McFarland, the Biden administration is likely to go back to renegotiate the Iran nuclear deal.

McFarland made such a statement as he reacted to reports that the White House had convened a National Security Council principals meeting in order to discuss Tehran’s nuclear moves. McFarland also speculated that the outcome could create a draft of recommendation for Biden to determine a new foreign policy, which might include getting Iran back to the negotiating table.

McFarland explained, “the Iran nuclear deal never stopped Iran’s nuclear program.” He continued, “all it did was put it on pause for about a decade and a half. Well, the clock’s been ticking since then.”

The former Deputy National Security adviser also added that Iran would become a nuclear state in 10 years if the Biden administration reentered the deal. This would also trigger a nuclear arms race in the region.

Meanwhile, former Trump officials also agreed to these claims stating that if the current administration “empowers” Iran, it is highly likely to increase terrorist activities and enable the Palestinians against Israel. This would also push the Jewish state to form alliances with other Arab countries.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR