Khamenei: Iran Will Return to Nuclear Commitments If US Lifts Sanctions

Iran

March 22nd, 7:52am

London - Asharq Al-Awsat

: Iranian Supreme Leader Khamanei speaks in a televised address on the occasion of the Iranian New Year (IRNA)

Tehran will return to its nuclear commitments once the United States lifts all sanctions on Iran, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Sunday. “The US must lift all sanctions, and then if we verify that they have indeed been lifted, we will return to our nuclear commitments without any problems,” Khamenei said in a televised speech. Describing Trump as "the former idiot", Khamenei said the “maximum pressure” policy against Iran has failed, and if the Biden administration chooses to pursue the same policy, it will also fail. “When we say that it is they who should lift the sanctions first, I have heard some politicians in the world respond, ‘What difference does it make? You say the US should act first, and the US says that you should take action first.’ The issue is not who should act first, he noted. "The issue is that we trusted the Americans during the Obama administration and we honored our commitments in the JCPOA, but they did not honor their commitments. They only said on paper that the sanctions had been lifted.” Khamenei also said that some Americans say that "the situation has changed since 2015 when we entered the nuclear agreement." "Yes. It has changed in Iran's favor, not in the interest of the United States," claimed Khamenei. Regarding Iran's upcoming presidential elections, Khamenei described the event as very important. He also said that foreign intelligence agencies are trying to disappoint the voters through social media by waging psychological warfare. "Their aim is to bring about a low turnout in the election by telling the people that their votes will not make a difference in the result." Khamenei further acknowledged that the "surge in production" he predicted last year has not been materialized, however, he claimed that Iran has had "some progress" during the past year. "Famous economists in the world say Iran is currently the world's 16th strong economy. However, it has many capabilities and potentials and if we use them we will climb to the 12th place in the world economy."

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2874151/khamenei-iran-will-return-nuclear-commitments-if-us-lifts-sanctions