Iran Spokesman Reiterates US Sanctions Must Be Lifted All 'At Once'

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman has told state television that the United States should lift sanctions “at once” to return to the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Saeed Khatibzadeh was quoted by local media on Friday as saying that that lifting sanctions at once and verification of this step are among Iran’s conditions for the US return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA.

He added that if the US returns to the Vienna talks ready to accept these conditions, agreement can be reached quickly. The negotiations are set to restart on November 29 after a five-month suspension by Iran.

The previous six rounds of talks tried to resolve which US sanctions should be lifted and in what sequence.

Khatibzadeh went on to say that Tehran also wants guarantees that Washington would not withdraw from an agreement again, in reference to the decision by former US president Donald Trump in 2018 to abandon the JCPOA and impose sanctions on Iran.

In recent weeks, Iran has hardened its position, signaling that it wants the Vienna talks to resume with different priorities than when they were suspended in June.

French Foreign Minister Yves Le Drian on Friday warned that if the Vienna talks prove to be a “sham”, it means JCPOA is “empty” and devoid of value.