Iran will increase nuclear program if US does not lift sanctions

Iran will increase nuclear program if US does not lift sanctions

The Iranian government will not stop advancing its nuclear program until it is sure the United States (US) will lift all sanctions imposed since the time of former President Donald Trump. This decision is said to be unchanged except on those conditions.

“Iran will not stop its [nuclear] retaliatory measures until it is sure all US sanctions imposed on Tehran following Washington's withdrawal from the nuclear deal under Trump in 2018 are lifted at once. And in an effective and verifiable manner with the necessary guarantees," Iranian state media said.

Ummatimes - Iran began breaking the deal in stages in 2019 in response to Trump's withdrawal from the previous year's deal. Washington has re-imposed sanctions on Tehran.

Indirect talks between the US and Iran aimed at reviving the agreement have stalled since last June. Discussions will resume in Vienna on November 29.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzad repeated Iran's request that Washington should provide assurances that it would not leave the deal again in the future.

He also explained that Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister and Chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri-Kani will travel to Berlin, London and Paris this week to discuss upcoming talks.

Earlier, the United Nations atomic watchdog, the IAEA, said in its latest report that Iran has accelerated its uranium enrichment to near weapons-grade levels. The move is what the United Nations has called a move that escalates tensions with the West as both sides seek to resume talks about reviving the Tehran nuclear deal.