China News Service, January 30, reported that the return of the United States to the Iran nuclear agreement has attracted much attention after the new US President Biden took office.

Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif said on the 29th local time that Iran will continue to accelerate the development of its nuclear program before the United States lifts sanctions.

The United States refused.

Data map: Nuclear reactor of Iran's Arak Heavy Water Plant.

Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers meet to hope Biden will return to nuclear agreement

Iran insists that the U.S. lift sanctions first

　　On the 29th local time, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif visited Turkey and held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Cavusoglu in Istanbul.

Both said that they look forward to the US Biden administration's return to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement.

　　Cavusoglu said: "Turkey hopes that the newly elected Biden administration of the United States will return to the Iran nuclear agreement and lift sanctions on Iran."

　　Zarif pointed out that the United States' request for Iran to resume the implementation of the nuclear agreement is "unrealistic and will not happen."

But he also said: "If the United States fulfills its obligations, we will also fully fulfill its obligations."

　　In July 2015, Iran reached a comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue with the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany.

According to the agreement, Iran promised to limit its nuclear program and the international community lifted sanctions against Iran.

In May 2018, the US government unilaterally withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement, and subsequently 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 that the measures taken are "reversible."

　　In January 2021, Iran resumed refining enriched uranium with a purity of 20% in the country.

However, Iran also stated that if the United States lifts its sanctions, the measures taken will be "reversible."

The picture shows US President Biden signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.

U.S. Secretary stresses that Iran should take action first

The new Iranian special envoy talks with European countries

　　On the other hand, the new U.S. Secretary of State Blinken rejected Iran’s request for the United States to act first.

　　Brinken said at the press conference that the United States hopes to start fulfilling its obligations again in accordance with the comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue.

But he emphasized that Iran needs to act first, and the return of the United States may take some time.

　　According to Reuters, while the United States is discussing how to restart the Iran nuclear agreement, two people familiar with the matter disclosed on the 29th local time that the new US high-level special envoy for Iran had conversations with British, French and German officials on the 28th.

　　Another source also confirmed that the discussion did take place, but did not provide details.