In an apparent reference to removing Iran’s Revolutionary Guards from a US terrorism list, the United States said on Thursday that, if Iran wanted sanctions relief beyond that of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, it must address US concerns beyond the pact.
A State Department spokesperson said, “We are not negotiating in public, but if Iran wants sanctions lifting that goes beyond the JCPOA, they will need to address concerns of ours beyond the JCPOA,” referring to the 2015 deal by its acronym, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Adding that Iran needs to make a decision, the spokesperson added, “Conversely, if they do not want to use these talks to resolve other bilateral issues beyond the JCPOA, then we are confident that we can very quickly reach an understanding on the JCPOA and begin reimplementing the deal.”
Despite “regular offers” from Washington to lift sanctions and provide other concessions in return, the US spokesperson was responding to a top Iranian official who earlier said Iran will not give up on its plans to avenge the 2020 US assassination of Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani.
Along with France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China directly, and the United States indirectly, Iran has been engaged for a year in negotiations to revive the 2015 deal.
