Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the US return to the nuclear agreement does not need negotiations, while there is talk of the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors finding new evidence regarding nuclear activities in Iran, which had not been previously announced.
Zarif said in a statement to the Iranian newspaper "Hamshahri" that any negotiations with Washington would be within the 5 + 1 group if it returned to the nuclear agreement.
He added that direct negotiations between Tehran and Washington are not currently forthcoming, due to Iran's experience in the nuclear deal and the US withdrawal from it.
Zarif stressed that if the United States does not back down from its sanctions policy and not return to the nuclear agreement, it will damage Washington's reputation.
The Iranian Foreign Minister also called on President Joe Biden's administration to take new steps aimed at ending this crisis, as he put it.
He indicated that a law approved by the Iranian parliament obliges the government to tighten its nuclear stance if US sanctions are not eased by February 21.
In December, the conservative-dominated parliament approved the law, setting a two-month deadline for sanctions relief.
Zarif also hinted at the possible impact of the presidential elections in Iran in June, as it is possible that electing a conservative president could further undermine the agreement.
"Time is running out for the Americans, because of the parliament law and also because of the elections atmosphere that will follow the Iranian New Year," which begins on March 21, Zarif said.
Iranian nuclear activities
For its part, the Wall Street Journal reported that International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors had found new evidence of nuclear activities in Iran, which had not been previously announced.
The newspaper quoted 3 diplomats as saying that samples taken by the agency from two sites in Iran during an inspection last fall contained traces of radioactive materials.
The diplomats added to the newspaper that the location of the discovery of the radioactive material may indicate that Iran has previously carried out acts related to nuclear weapons.
The newspaper quoted the diplomats as not knowing the nature of the discovered materials, and indicated that the agency included in its report last June questions about which it requested clarifications from Iran, related to activities that raise suspicions that took place in the early 2000s or before that date in 3 different locations.