DUBAI (UAE) – Iran’s foreign minister said on Friday that Tehran would immediately reverse actions with regard to its nuclear programme, stressing the country’s position on Washington’s offer to restart discussions.
A day earlier, the Joe Biden administration announced it was ready to revive the 2015 agreement between Iran and world powers which was abandoned by former president Donald Trump in 2018 before reintroducing curbs.
When sanctions are lifted, “we will then immediately reverse all remedial measures. Simple,” Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted.
Zarif said on Twitter on Thursday that Iran’s remedial measures were in response to violations of the pact by the US, Britain, France and Germany. China and Russia are the other signatories of the deal.
In an earlier interview, he said the US had not only failed to fulfil its obligations, but continues Trump’s “failed maximum pressure” in spite of claiming that Washington is ready to revive the stalled pact.
“Thus the Europeans must note that pressure on Iran does not work, nor are worthless remarks of any use,” Zarif said, adding: “As soon as we see steps by the United States and Europe toward fulfilling their obligations, we will immediately react and return to our commitments.”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh tweeted on Friday saying, “US must act: lift sanctions. We will respond.”
British junior foreign minister James Cleverly stressed that Iran has to restart compliance with the pact, adding that the West should not send signals that it is prepared to overlook breaches of the nuclear deal.