US to Raisi: You want sanctions lifted, return to Vienna talks
A White House spokesman says that if Ebrahim Raisi really wants sanctions lifted, the issue is on the table in Vienna. Raisi said at his inauguration that he would welcome any plan that would lead to the lifting of sanctions.
White House spokesman Ned Price, in response to Ebrahim Raisi's remarks at the inauguration, emphasized that if he truly has a firm determination to lift sanctions, this is exactly what is on the table in Vienna.
In his speech to the Islamic Consultative Assembly on Thursday, August 4, Raisi said that he welcomes any diplomatic plan that leads to the lifting of US sanctions.
Representatives of the Islamic Republic and the five remaining countries in the nuclear agreement held six rounds of negotiations to revive the JCPOA from mid-April until about a month and a half ago, and the next round of talks was postponed to the formation of the 13th government in Iran without setting a specific date for it.
The United States is indirectly participating in these negotiations for the first time since withdrawing from the nuclear deal in May 2018. The ultimate goal of the Vienna talks is for the United States to return to the agreement, lift sanctions, and return Iran to full compliance with its obligations under the JCPOA.
The White House spokesman says the US message to the new Iranian president is the same as it was to the previous head of government. He called on Iran to return to negotiations to revive the JCPOA as soon as possible.
Ned Price expressed hope that the Islamic Republic would seize the opportunity and resume negotiations to find a diplomatic solution to revive the nuclear deal.
He added that the Joe Biden administration, with all its reservations about the Islamic Republic, sees the nuclear deal as an opportunity to ensure "permanent and verifiable containment of Iran's nuclear programs."
Limited opportunity to return to Vienna talks
The White House spokesman, echoing previous statements by senior US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, emphasized that Washington's offer to lift a large portion of sanctions in exchange for Iran returning to its commitments is not permanent and unlimited.
Despite Ebrahim Raisi's remarks after the inauguration, his government's foreign policy team has not yet been formed, and Iran has not specifically taken a position on its willingness to resume the Vienna talks.
In his latest meeting with members of Hassan Rouhani's government, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei, blamed America's "excessive ambition" for the impasse in the Vienna talks. He called the 12th government's performance in negotiating with the West and lifting sanctions unsuccessful.
Source: DW
