US says lifting sanctions on Iran depends on steps on nuclear program

The US administration considers the fulfillment by the authorities of the Islamic Republic of agreements regarding the dismantling of Tehran's nuclear program as a key factor for easing sanctions against Iran.

High-ranking US official stated this.

"We really want a situation to develop in which we could lift sanctions from a significant part of the Iranian economy and unfreeze their assets. But for this, the Iranians need to do something from what they promised to do," he said during a special telephone briefing for journalists. "Sanctions relief is not tied to any specific actions. It is tied to them generally acting in a more proper manner. And, of course, we pay the most attention to the nuclear program," the official added. According to him, the US expects from the Iranian authorities "verifiable steps aimed at ensuring that they do not restore" the nuclear program of the Islamic Republic.

"It is also very important to us that they do not finance terrorism and are not a source of instability in the region. And, of course, the internal situation [in Iran] is also important to us, but it is in third place after the first two issues," the representative of the US administration clarified, naming the key factors in Washington's understanding for lifting sanctions against Iran and unfreezing its assets. According to him, the US wants the Iranian side to "demonstrate readiness to be a good partner." "Then we will be ready to show exceptional generosity in matters of opening their economy and easing sanctions," the official added. As he clarified, the US "will be ready to gradually unfreeze some of the frozen funds, but all of this will be tied to verifiable results."

Earlier, officials from the US, Iran, and Pakistan, acting as mediator, confirmed the achievement of an agreement between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending hostilities in the Middle East. The document is planned to be signed in Geneva on June 19. According to Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, during the 60-day ceasefire, the parties will discuss, among other things, Tehran's nuclear program, from June 15 the end of the US naval blockade of Iran will be announced, as well as the immediate and permanent cessation of military operations on all fronts, including Lebanon. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that responsibility for implementing the US-Iran agreement, including ending Israeli aggression against Lebanon, is fully placed on Washington.

Source: TASS