Blinken: Iran is just weeks away from building a nuclear weapon
The US Secretary of State says that if Iran continues to violate its commitments under the nuclear deal, it could produce the material needed to build a nuclear weapon within weeks. National Security Advisor Biden has also previously said that the US's immediate priority is to revive the nuclear deal.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced in an interview with NBC that Tehran, in its current state, is only a few weeks away from producing the fissile material needed to build a nuclear weapon.
Blinken noted that the US return to the JCPOA requires Iran's cooperation for a "stronger and longer-term agreement" that includes other issues.
Iran has been pre-enriching to 20% for several weeks.
Biden and other officials in his administration have previously referred to Iran's missile program and its role in the region, and it seems that these are what "other issues" mean.
This is Blinken's first television interview since taking office as US Secretary of State. He made it clear that Iran's recent steps in reducing its nuclear commitments have left no opportunity for the US to return to the JCPOA.
In his first press conference after being confirmed as Secretary of State, Blinken announced that the Biden administration was determined to return to the JCPOA, but Iran must take the first step and stop violating its commitments.
Three days earlier, Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, had also announced that reviving the nuclear deal was an urgent priority for Washington because "Iran is very close to building a nuclear weapon."
At the Washington Institute of Peace's online meeting, Sullivan did not set any conditions for the revival of the JCPOA, but reminded that the United States is seeking to prevent the greatest "nuclear crisis."
Officials of the Islamic Republic have said that they will not renegotiate the JCPOA and will not accept any conditions for the US to return to the nuclear agreement.
According to Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, it is the duty of the United States to return to the JCPOA and fulfill its obligations: "What is not in the agreement has been agreed upon, not in the agreement, and no new articles will be added to it today."
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported on a conversation between the EU foreign policy chief and Blinken on the issue of Iran. The newspaper's reporter tweeted that Barrell and Blinken discussed the revival of the JCPOA.
In line with Blinken's remarks, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said in his weekly press conference: "The United States cannot automatically return to the JCPOA with one signature."
IRNA news agency quoted Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying: "We are waiting for the US to take action, meaning effective lifting of sanctions. Effective lifting of sanctions means that the sanctions that occurred after Trump came to power with his defiance of international treaties, including Resolution 2231 and the JCPOA, are effectively lifted. Effective lifting means that we must see the effects of lifting the sanctions, and a signature on paper is not enough."
Source: DW
