Iran rejects ending 20% enrichment before U.S. lifts sanctions, state TV says

ג'ו ביידן וחסן רוחאני
U.S. President Joe Biden and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani – Photo: AP, Office of the Iranian Presidency

Following reports Washington would offer new proposal to jump-start talks, Tehran threatens to further reduce its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal if U.S. fails to comply with demands while window of opportunity is fast closing.

Iran will not stop its 20% uranium enrichment before the United States lifts all sanctions, Iranian state TV quoted an unnamed official as saying on Tuesday in reaction to a U.S. media report that Washington would offer a new proposal to jump-start talks.

The Biden administration has been seeking to engage Iran in talks about both sides resuming compliance with the deal, under which economic sanctions on Tehran were removed in return for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program to make it harder to develop a nuclear weapon – an ambition Tehran denies.

“A senior Iranian official tells Press TV that Tehran will stop its 20-percent uranium enrichment only if the U.S. lifts ALL its sanctions on Iran first,” state-run Press TV said on its website.

“The official said Tehran will further reduce its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal if the U.S. does not lift all sanctions, warning that Washington is rapidly running out of time,” it added.

Politico said a U.S. proposal, the details of which it said are still being worked out, would ask Iran to halt some of its nuclear activities, such as work on advanced centrifuges and the enrichment of uranium to 20% purity, in exchange for some relief from U.S. economic sanctions.

centrifuge machines in the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran
Centrifuge machines in the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran – (Photo: AP)

Source: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1gjQNeB00

[Disclaimer]