Speaking with CBS News in an interview set to air later on Sunday, Biden said that the US will only drop the sanctions imposed on Iran by the Trump administration when Iran complies with US demands that it halt its uranium enrichment efforts.
When asked whether the US would first lift sanctions to get Iran back to the negotiating table, Biden responded, “No.” Biden nodded when asked whether Iran would first have to halt uranium enrichment before the US lifts sanctions.
Earlier on Sunday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded that the US lift all sanctions, calling the end of the sanctions regime a condition for Iran returning to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.
“Iran has fulfilled all its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal, not the United States and the three European countries ... If they want Iran to return to its commitments, the United States must lift all sanctions first,” Khamenei wrote on Twitter.After verifying whether all sanctions have been lifted, then we will return to full compliance,” he wrote.
The Biden administration is considering pursuing a separate agreement with Iran regarding its aggressive approach in the Middle East, the Israel Hayom newspaper reported this morning, citing two sources close to the administration.
