Raisi Tells Macron All Sanctions Must Be Removed For a Nuclear Deal

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has told his French counterpart that any agreement between Tehran and world powers must involve removal of all sanctions and provision for credible guarantees.

During a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday, Raisi discussed the latest developments of the ongoing talks in Vienna to revive the 2015 Iran deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Raisi insisted on Iran’s demands that any deal in Vienna should be the cessation to all political issues and claims and should include the lifting of all maximum pressure sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic since 2018, when former president Donald Trump withdrew from the deal.

He added that certain "political pressures or claims have been made with the aim of maintaining the leverage of pressure on the Iranian nation which undermine the prospect of reaching an agreement."

‘Maximum pressure’ refers to around 1,500 sanctions, a majority of which are designation of Iranian officials, individuals and companies for reasons other than the nuclear program.

Sanctions were imposedfor human rights violations, support for terror groups, violation of banking and export laws, money laundering and similar offences.

Raisi noted that Iran’s negotiating team in Vienna has put forth constructive proposals and has studied offers by the other sides to see if they are in line with the interests of the Iranian people.