US Secretary of State: "Iran Nuclear Deal Must Be Stronger Than Before"

Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State [Photo by Reuters]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken argued that the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) needs to be stronger than before to resolve Iran's nuclear issue.

In an interview with U.S. public radio NPR on the 16th (local time), Secretary Blinken said, "Given that Iran's nuclear program is heading in the wrong direction, simply restoring the agreement will not solve the problem."

Referring to former President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear deal in 2018, he said, "The 2015 nuclear deal was effective in blocking Iran's production of nuclear material for manufacturing nuclear weapons, but after the U.S. withdrew, Iran expanded its nuclear program," adding, "Now, restoration alone is not enough."

Secretary Blinken emphasized that the U.S. policy that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons remains unchanged, stating, "The first step for this is for Iran to comply with the (previous) nuclear agreement."

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