February 6th local time, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif said that the new U.S. government “has not had much time” and urged the United States to take prompt action to return to the Iran nuclear agreement.
According to a report by the Russian satellite news agency on the 7th, Zarif said in an interview with the local media on the 6th local time that due to parliamentary legislation and the election atmosphere after the Iranian New Year (March 21), there is not much time for the United States to return to the Iran nuclear agreement.
“The more America procrastinates, the more it will lose… We are at the negotiating table, and it is the United States that needs to go back to the table,” Zarif said.
In July 2015, Iran reached a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue with the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and Germany.
Under the agreement, Iran promised to limit its nuclear program and the international community lifted sanctions against Iran. In May 2018, the U.S. government unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement, and then restarted and added a series of sanctions against Iran.
Since May 2019, Iran has gradually suspended the implementation of some of the terms of the agreement, but promised to take measures “reversible”.
Last December, the Iranian parliament passed legislation setting a two-month deadline for the United States to ease sanctions, Reuters reported.
Zarif said legislation passed by Parliament would “force” his government to “strengthen its nuclear position” if the United States does not relax sanctions by February 21.
In addition, Zarif also mentioned the general election expected to be held in June this year in Iran, and reported that if a “hard-line president” is elected at that time, it may further threaten the existence of the Iran nuclear agreement.
According to previous reports, 41 former U.S. defense and foreign affairs officials recently drafted an open letter to the Biden administration, calling on the government to make every effort to quickly return to the Iran nuclear agreement.
Biden promised during the presidential election that he would lead the United States back into the agreement with Iran, but so far the Biden administration has still made Iran resume its compliance first.
