Iran Says Biden 'Must Act Quickly,' Refuses to Slow Nuclear Program
On 1/29/21 at 8:49 AM EST
Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Majid Takht-Ravanchi told
USA Today Thursday that Biden "must act quickly" to return to the 2015 nuclear deal "because the window is closing."
But Foreign Minister Javad Zarif told reporters at a press conference with his Turkish counterpart Friday that Iran will not scale back its nuclear activities before the U.S. lifts sanctions.
Though both, Tehran and the Biden administration, have said they wish to return to the JCPOA, neither appears willing to take the first step.
Iran says Trump's 2018 withdrawal from the accord means it must be Biden who first lifts sanctions and returns the U.S. to compliance, but the new president and his Secretary of State Antony Blinken are demanding that Iran curbs its nuclear program before any detente.