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US will not lift sanctions to entice Iran to negotiating table, says Joe Biden
Washington DC: US President, Joe Biden has said that the United States (US) will not lift its economic sanctions to entice Iran back to the negotiating table over the country’s nuclear program.
As per details, Biden, in an interview with CBS News on Sunday, indicated that Iran would have to stop enriching uranium before his administration would lift sanctions.
CBS News anchor Norah O’Donnell asked, “Will the US lift sanctions first in order to get Iran back to the negotiating table?”
“No,” Biden replied.
The interview was recorded on Friday but released on Sunday.
Former US president, Donald Trump, withdrew United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018 from the atomic deal according to which Iran agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
The deal between these two nations is also known as the 'Iran nuclear deal' or the 'Iran deal'.
Trump termed the deal as, “worst deal ever”.
In this regard, Biden has said he will seek to revive the deal, but insisted that Iran must first reverse its nuclear steps.
Asked if Iran had to stop enriching uranium first, Biden nodded.
Earlier on Sunday, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly reiterated that Tehran would only return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal when the US will lift all sanctions.
The US and its European allies believe that Iran has ambitions to develop a nuclear bomb but Tehran has denied that allegation.