Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State: "Iran Sanctions Will Remain Until Nuclear Deal Compliance"

"Nuclear Deal Reached but Sanctions Maintained"
Attention on Whether Agreement Will Be Made at 5th Negotiation on the 10th

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken stated that even if the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) negotiations are concluded, sanctions against Iran will be maintained until Iran fully complies with the nuclear agreement. The international community is focusing on whether the final negotiations before the Iranian presidential election will succeed.

On the 8th (local time), Secretary Blinken appeared at a U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee hearing and said, "Even if the U.S. returns to the nuclear deal with Iran, hundreds of sanctions against Iran will remain in place until Iran complies with the agreement," adding, "Unfortunately, Iran's activities in the region have worsened. If Iran acquires nuclear weapons or the capability to produce fissile material in a very short time, it could become a much worse actor."

Attention is focused on how these remarks will affect the 5th round of Iran nuclear deal negotiations scheduled for the 10th. The parties to the nuclear deal, including Iran, the U.S., Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany, have been conducting talks in Vienna, Austria, since early April. The 5th round of negotiations on the 10th is expected to be the last before the Iranian presidential election, and if it fails to reach an agreement this time, it is anticipated that restoring the nuclear deal will become very difficult.

This is because a hardline conservative candidate is likely to win the Iranian presidential election scheduled for the 16th. On that day, Iran's state-run Press TV reported that Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, considered a hardline conservative candidate, showed 56% support in the Iranian presidential election poll.

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