Iran ready to resume nuclear talks with US once sanctions end, says Rouhani

Iran ready to resume nuclear talks with US once sanctions end, says Rouhani
In a televised domestic address, Hassan Rouhani told Iranians that he was ready to resume nuclear talks, provided the US lifted sanctions which had crippled Iran's economy.
2 min read
04 December, 2019
Hassan Rouhani adressing a press conference in New York, in October [GETTY]
Iran President Hassan Rouhani declared on Wednesday that Tehran was prepared to resume nuclear talks with the US, provided that "unlawful" sanctions are lifted.

On a live televised address he stated that Iran was ready to begin the nuclear talks in framework of "5+1" states 

"We have been placed under sanctions despite the fact we are blameless. The conditions have been imposed on us by Zionists, the region's 'reactionary' [Saudi Arabia] and the cruelty of the White House. We have no choice but to resist and stand up against those who implement these sanctions."

Rouhani has repeatedly declared his intention to resume talk with the heads of P5+1, on the condition that Washington lifts sanction on the country.

In 2015, Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) alongside the P5+1, comprising the US, France, the UK, Russia, China plus Germany.

The deal, which became known as the Iran nuclear deal, provided Iran with relief from economic sanctions in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear programme

Following America's unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear agreement and renewed sanctions led by Donald Trump, the deal has been at risk of collapsing. 

Read more: Six European countries join sanctions-busting system for Iran oil trade

Since then, Iran has turned its back on the accord by reducing commitments, in the hope of winning concessions from the remaining P5+1 member states. In 4 November, engineers began feeding uranium hexafluoride gas into mothballed enrichment centrifuges at the underground Fordow plant south of Tehran.  


  

Iran has crippled under the weight of economic pressures. Austerity measures, such as the 200 percent rise in gas price last month, have been with bloody protests. According to Amnesty international, nearly 208 are believed to be have been killed in protests.    

Read more: Amnesty: Iran unrest killed ‘at least 208’ last month

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay connected