A senior leader says the United States must lift all sanctions before Iran reverses its steps away from the nuclear deal.
Tehran, Iran – Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reiterated that Iran will not pressure the United States as a trade-off of sanctions relief.
In an hour-long televised address to the country on Sunday to mark the start of the New Persian year, he called the campaign “the most pressing” of economic sanctions – what he called a “major crime” committed by the “fool” before that ”President Donald Trump – failed.
“He [Trump] he went in that infamous way, bringing shame to his country, ”said Khamenei. “They need to know that ‘maximum pressure’ has failed so far, and if the current U.S. administration wants to continue, it will fail as well.”
Trump abandoned Iran’s nuclear deal in 2015 with world powers and said Iran must renegotiate the treaty until sanctions are lifted.
Joe Biden’s administration has said it wants to reinstate the Integrated Action Plan (JCPOA), as the deal is formally known, but says Iran must first come back to comply fully with the contract before sanctions are imposed. Iran has gradually adhered to the treaty since 2019, a year after the U.S. withdrew.
Khamenei reaffirmed what he called the country’s “definitive policy” on the nuclear deal: The U.S. must first lift all sanctions, after which Iran will resume its measures to promote uranium enrichment and banning new centrifuges, among other moves.
He said that Iran ran into the JCPOA, having agreed with the US, China, France, the United Kingdom, Russia and Germany during Barack Obama’s presidency since he fulfilled their promises. while the US lifted only “paper-based” sanctions.
Therefore, he said Iran is now “in no hurry” to lift sanctions as it is currently “abolishing them” by relying on local production.
The director general on Saturday chose “production, support, and the removal of barriers” as the slogan for the new year, expanding his self-reliance theme against external pressures.
Khamenei on Sunday also commented on comments earlier this month by Wendy Sherman, the U.S. Secretary of State’s nominee, who said “the facts on the ground have changed, the geopolitics of the region have changed, and the way forward must change as well ”in relation to the JCPOA.
“I also agree, yes. Circumstances have changed, but they have changed for Iran, not the USA, ”he said. “So if there is anything, the JCPOA has to change in favor of Iran.”
He also spoke directly to potential candidates for Iran’s upcoming primary elections in June, telling them not to link construction sanctions to economic development.
“We will continue to see sanctions in place. Make plans for the economy with sanctions, ”the chief executive warned.