Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the nuclear agreement was signed by his country and the "5 + 1" group, and ratified by the United Nations, and that no file can be added to the agreement that was not included in it.
In a press conference today, Friday, with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu, in Istanbul, Zarif added that Washington is the one who withdrew from the agreement and violated it, and it is the one who must return to it first, as he put it.
The director of the office of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said today that the negotiation file on the nuclear agreement has been closed, stressing that his country's position is clear and will not change, and that there is no difference in Tehran between former US President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden.
The spokesman indicated that Iran has not left the nuclear agreement to return to it, and will implement all its obligations if it is confirmed that Washington and Europe implement their commitments.
Tensions escalated between Iran and the United States before the inauguration of US President Joe Biden as president to succeed President Donald Trump, who pursued a policy of pressure on Tehran by withdrawing Washington from the nuclear agreement in 2019, imposing economic sanctions and exchanging fiery statements between the two countries.
President Joe Biden's administration does not plan to fully lift sanctions on (European) Iran
Planning and projections
Earlier, the Wall Street Journal said Thursday that President Joe Biden's administration is not planning to lift all sanctions on Iran, as part of a possible return to the nuclear deal.
The newspaper quoted Biden administration officials as saying that the administration plans to keep some sanctions in the areas of combating terrorism and human rights.
She said that the current US administration is seeking to attach the nuclear deal with Iran to another agreement that includes other issues, especially the Iranian ballistic missile program, a program that the newspaper described as frustrating, but indicated that it was not prohibited under the 2015 agreement from which the administration of former President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018. Before America re-imposes tight sanctions on Iran.
The newspaper added that the Biden administration's national security team expects many obstacles to persuading Iran to return to the nuclear agreement and conclude a supplementary agreement that includes issues, including the Iranian missile program, which Tehran describes as defensive, while Washington and Tel Aviv consider it a threat to the security of the region.
Our dear neighbors, the opportunity is available to us to re-reflect on the issue of regional security. As we know, such security cannot be bought with money and can be achieved by accumulating weapons.
The only way to establish security and stability is through broad regional cooperation among the countries of the region. Iran has always emphasized its readiness to activate such cooperation.
- Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 28, 2021
Available opportunity
In a related context, Zarif said in an Arabic tweet that the opportunity is available for Iran and its neighbors to re-reflect on the issue of regional security.
Zarif indicated in his tweet - which he posted on Thursday on Twitter - that security cannot be bought with money or achieved by accumulating weapons.
He added that the only way to establish security and stability is broad regional cooperation among the countries of the region, and Iran is ready to activate such cooperation.
Threat and filter
For his part, a spokesman for the US Department of Defense John Kirby said that Iran remains a threat in the Middle East.
Kirby stressed during a press briefing at the headquarters of the US Defense Department that Iran supports terrorism in various parts of the Middle East region, adding that the ministry is committed to confronting what he called "terrorist acts" spread by Iran.
In a related context, Reuters reported, citing a US State Department official, on Thursday, that the Biden administration had nominated Robert Malley, a former foreign policy advisor in the Barack Obama administration, to be a special envoy on Iran.
Role and challenges
This step gives the seasoned diplomat a leadership role in one of the most important and difficult foreign policy challenges facing the new US administration.
Mali was a key member of Obama's team in negotiating the nuclear deal with Iran and world powers that was concluded in 2015, from which former President Donald Trump withdrew in 2018 despite strong opposition from Washington's European allies.
The official, who asked not to be named, said, "Foreign Minister Blinken is building a dedicated team that he draws from among experts with acumen and diversity of opinions. Robert Malley comes to the fore in his capacity as our special envoy on Iranian affairs, and he will bring to the post a record of successes in negotiating the nuclear program." Iranian ".
"The minister is sure that he and his team will be able to do it again," he added, referring to Foreign Minister Anthony Blinken.
When Mali's name appeared for the first time in news reports as a prominent candidate for the position, some Republican lawmakers and members of pro-Israel groups were criticized, expressing their concern that he would be lenient toward Iran and toughening up against Israel. However, a number of foreign policy experts came to his defense and praised his personality. Respected and neutral.