Blinken: "Sanctions Will Remain Until Iran Nuclear Deal Compliance"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken stated on the 8th (local time) that even if the United States returns to the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), hundreds of sanctions will remain in place until Iran complies with the agreement.

At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing that day, Secretary Blinken said that the ongoing sanctions against Iran include those imposed during the Donald Trump administration. Regarding the sanctions, he said, "They will remain as long as Iran's behavior does not change, until Iran changes its behavior."

The Iran nuclear deal was concluded in 2015 between Iran and six countries: the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China) and Germany. It includes provisions to lift sanctions against Iran in exchange for limiting Iran's nuclear activities.

However, after former U.S. President Trump announced the withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 and reinstated sanctions, Iran partially resumed its nuclear activities. Currently, the U.S. position is to lift sanctions if Iran complies with the nuclear deal.

Since early April, Iran has been meeting with Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany in Vienna, Austria, to negotiate the restoration of the nuclear deal. Although Iran claimed it would not engage in direct talks with the U.S., it is reported that the two countries exchanged views indirectly during the talks.

Secretary Blinken also revealed that the government is conducting an investigation into the unexplained brain injuries known as "Havana Syndrome" experienced by diplomats stationed overseas.

He added that if there is suspicion of involvement by specific countries such as Russia, the issue will be raised, but at this point, the exact cause is unknown.

First reported in 2016 when a CIA officer working at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba complained of headaches and dizziness, this condition was named "Havana Syndrome" after the Cuban capital, Havana.

The U.S. government has not yet identified the exact cause of these symptoms but internally considers the possibility that the Russian military intelligence agency, the Main Directorate of the General Staff (GRU), may be behind it.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.