Tehran has not formally responded to the US offer last week for talks with Iran in a joint meeting with the countries that negotiated the deal.

'Our patience is not unlimited', US on nuclear deal with Iran

Tehran said on Sunday the United States must first lift sanctions on Iran if it wants to talk about salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal, reiterating its stance that it will not make the first move to restore the pact with major powers.

President Joe Biden's administration said last week it was ready to talk to Iran about both nations returning to the accord, which aimed to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons while lifting most international sanctions.

Former US president Donald Trump abandoned the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, which in turn gradually began breaching terms of the agreement.

But Iran and the United States have been at odds over who should take the first step to revive the accord. Iran insists the United States must first lift US sanctions while Washington says Tehran must first return to compliance.

"The US&nbsp;will not be able to rejoin the nuclear pact before it lifts sanctions.&nbsp;Once everybody implements their side of obligations, there will be talks," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told Iran's English Language Press TV.

Iran has been hard hit by the sanctions, as well as by the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Rafael Grossi, the IAEA director-general who is in Tehran to discuss the agency's "essential verification activities", met on Sunday with Iran's nuclear energy chief.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-nuclear-watchdog-chief-rafael-grossi-arrives-in-iran-ahead-of-us-sanctions-deadline-365182">Also read |&nbsp;UN nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi, arrives in Iran ahead of US sanctions deadline</a>

Iran`s envoy to the IAEA, Kazem Gharibabadi, tweeted that Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran`s Atomic Energy Organisation, and Grossi held "fruitful talks based on mutual respect".

"Iran and the IAEA held fruitful discussions based on mutual respect, the result of which will be released this evening," Kazem Gharibabadi, who attended the meeting, wrote on Twitter.

Zarif said: "We will talk to Mr. Grossi about respecting the laws of our country...but at the same time not creating an impasse for him to continue to carry out the obligations to show Iran`s nuclear programme is peaceful."

Earlier in the day, Zarif said&nbsp;Iran's decision to end snap inspections by UN&nbsp;inspectors on February&nbsp;23 would not mean abandoning its 2015 nuclear deal, but the United States must still lift sanctions on Tehran to rescue the pact.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-zarif-says-ending-iaea-snap-inspections-doesnt-breach-2015-nuclear-deal-365188">Also read |&nbsp;Iran's Zarif says ending IAEA snap inspections doesn't breach 2015 nuclear deal</a>

"All our steps (to breach the deal) are reversible...The move on February&nbsp;23 is not abandoning the deal," Zarif said in a televised interview with Iran's English Language Press TV.

Under a law enacted by hardline Iranian lawmakers last year, the government is obliged on February&nbsp;23 to limit IAEA inspections to declared nuclear sites only, revoking its short-notice access to any location seen as relevant for information-gathering, if other parties did not fully comply with the deal.

Tehran said on Sunday the United States must first lift sanctions on Iran if it wants to talk about salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal, reiterating its stance that it will not make the first move to restore the pact with major powers.

Tehran said on Sunday the United States must first lift sanctions on Iran if it wants to talk about salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal, reiterating its stance that it will not make the first move to restore the pact with major powers. President Joe Biden's administration said last week it was ready to talk to Iran about both nations returning to the accord, which aimed to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons while lifting most international sanctions. Former US president Donald Trump abandoned the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, which in turn gradually began breaching terms of the agreement. But Iran and the United States have been at odds over who should take the first step to revive the accord. Iran insists the United States must first lift US sanctions while Washington says Tehran must first return to compliance. "The US will not be able to rejoin the nuclear pact before it lifts sanctions. Once everybody implements their side of obligations, there will be talks," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told Iran's English Language Press TV. Iran has been hard hit by the sanctions, as well as by the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Rafael Grossi, the IAEA director-general who is in Tehran to discuss the agency's "essential verification activities", met on Sunday with Iran's nuclear energy chief. Also read | UN nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi, arrives in Iran ahead of US sanctions deadline Iran`s envoy to the IAEA, Kazem Gharibabadi, tweeted that Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran`s Atomic Energy Organisation, and Grossi held "fruitful talks based on mutual respect". "Iran and the IAEA held fruitful discussions based on mutual respect, the result of which will be released this evening," Kazem Gharibabadi, who attended the meeting, wrote on Twitter. Zarif said: "We will talk to Mr. Grossi about respecting the laws of our country...but at the same time not creating an impasse for him to continue to carry out the obligations to show Iran`s nuclear programme is peaceful." Earlier in the day, Zarif said Iran's decision to end snap inspections by UN inspectors on February 23 would not mean abandoning its 2015 nuclear deal, but the United States must still lift sanctions on Tehran to rescue the pact. Also read | Iran's Zarif says ending IAEA snap inspections doesn't breach 2015 nuclear deal "All our steps (to breach the deal) are reversible...The move on February 23 is not abandoning the deal," Zarif said in a televised interview with Iran's English Language Press TV. Under a law enacted by hardline Iranian lawmakers last year, the government is obliged on February 23 to limit IAEA inspections to declared nuclear sites only, revoking its short-notice access to any location seen as relevant for information-gathering, if other parties did not fully comply with the deal.

Iran reiterates stance, says US must first lift sanctions before talks to revive 2015 deal

Russia on Friday welcomed initial steps taken by the United States to find compromise on the Iran nuclear deal, the historic accord brokered in 2015 that collapsed under US President Donald Trump.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters it was a "good thing" that the Washington was no longer calling for international sanctions on Iran, but said ultimately more work was needed.

"It is the restoration of the JCPOA regime that is important," he said, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as the Iran deal is formally known.

"Sanctions pressure did not help the implementation of the agreement and brought the situation to a dead end," Peskov added.

The deal brokered in 2015 by then president Barack Obama saw Iran drastically scale back its nuclear programme in exchange for promises of economic relief.

Trump withdrew from the accord in 2018 and re-imposed sweeping sanctions on the Islamic state.

The Biden administration on Thursday offered talks with Iran led by European allies and reversed two largely symbolic steps against Tehran imposed by Trump.

Those steps included a retraction of calls for international sanctions on Tehran and the removal of draconian curbs on Iranian diplomats in New York.

Earlier in the day, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's Vienna-based envoy to international organisations, also praised Washington's move.

"It's a good sign confirming that the United States is ready for the JCPOA to begin functioning normally again," he told state-run news agency RIA Novosti.

The offer for talks came ahead of a Sunday deadline set by Iran for it to restrict some access to nuclear inspectors unless Trump's sanctions are ended.

Biden has insisted he will not remove Trump's sanctions until Iran returns to compliance, but in a letter to the United Nations, the United States said it no longer believed that the world body had "snapped back" sanctions on Iran.

After the offer for talks, Iran on Friday renewed its call for the US to lift all sanctions imposed by the previous US administration.

Russia on Friday welcomed initial steps taken by the United States to find compromise on the Iran nuclear deal, the historic accord brokered in 2015 that collapsed under US President Donald Trump.

Russia on Friday welcomed initial steps taken by the United States to find compromise on the Iran nuclear deal, the historic accord brokered in 2015 that collapsed under US President Donald Trump. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters it was a "good thing" that the Washington was no longer calling for international sanctions on Iran, but said ultimately more work was needed. "It is the restoration of the JCPOA regime that is important," he said, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as the Iran deal is formally known. "Sanctions pressure did not help the implementation of the agreement and brought the situation to a dead end," Peskov added. The deal brokered in 2015 by then president Barack Obama saw Iran drastically scale back its nuclear programme in exchange for promises of economic relief. Trump withdrew from the accord in 2018 and re-imposed sweeping sanctions on the Islamic state. The Biden administration on Thursday offered talks with Iran led by European allies and reversed two largely symbolic steps against Tehran imposed by Trump. Those steps included a retraction of calls for international sanctions on Tehran and the removal of draconian curbs on Iranian diplomats in New York. Earlier in the day, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's Vienna-based envoy to international organisations, also praised Washington's move. "It's a good sign confirming that the United States is ready for the JCPOA to begin functioning normally again," he told state-run news agency RIA Novosti. The offer for talks came ahead of a Sunday deadline set by Iran for it to restrict some access to nuclear inspectors unless Trump's sanctions are ended. Biden has insisted he will not remove Trump's sanctions until Iran returns to compliance, but in a letter to the United Nations, the United States said it no longer believed that the world body had "snapped back" sanctions on Iran. After the offer for talks, Iran on Friday renewed its call for the US to lift all sanctions imposed by the previous US administration.

Kremlin welcomes US gestures on salvaging Iran nuclear deal

The United States would accept an invitation from the European Union High Representative to attend a meeting of the P5+1 and Iran to discuss a diplomatic way forward on Irans nuclear program.

US says ready for talks with Iran to revive nuclear deal

In 2017, an Iranian-American couple drew up a list of cities in the United States and Europe where they could settle now that both their daughters had left for college.

An extraordinary idea struck the couple, Emad Shargi and Bahareh Amidi Shargi. Move to Iran.

They had an attachment to the language, culture and traditions of a homeland they had both left as children. They had traveled to Iran several times over the years and felt a welcoming vibe.

Shargi, 56, was a partner at a company in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, leasing and selling private airplanes. Amidi Shargi, 53, a poet, gave public lectures at universities and hospitals — including a TEDx talk about the therapeutic power of poetry.

Family members in America, particularly Shargi’s father, warned them against the move, saying the Islamic Republic was “no place for them.” They dismissed the concerns as exaggeration because neither had ever been involved in politics.

That decision upended their lives. Shargi is the latest dual American citizen arrested in Iran. He was sentenced on Nov. 30 to 10 years in prison on murky charges of national security violations, after a trial that he not only did not attend but had no idea had been taking place.

Amidi Shargi is now living in Washington navigating efforts aimed at securing her husband’s release and containing the growing anxiety of their children and elderly parents. Amidi Shargi spoke out publicly in an interview for the first time, about their ordeal.

“Iran felt like we were at home. We traveled all around, took in all the history,” Amidi Shargi said. “We did not think this would happen to him. Not in a million years, not a drop in the sea.”

Shargi’s conviction came against the backdrop of other provocative steps Iran has taken since the election of President Joe Biden to pressure the new administration into reversing the “maximum pressure” policy of the former president, Donald Trump. Trump scrapped U.S. participation in the 2015 nuclear agreement and reimposed severe economic sanctions.

At least three other American citizens of Iranian descent have been held in Iran for years.

“In the past decade, Iran has frequently pursued its foreign policy goals through detention and hostage taking of dual nationals. This latest imprisonment of Emad Shargi is consistent with this track record,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, a New York-based advocacy group.

As the Biden administration attempts to define how to deal with Iran, which could include a return to the nuclear deal, families of the imprisoned Americans are calling for the administration to prioritize returning their loved ones in any negotiations.

Besides Shargi, those held include Baqer Namazi, a former UNICEF official, his son Siamak Namazi, a businessman, and Morad Tahbaz, an environmentalist entrepreneur.

Trump’s administration engaged with Iran in prisoner swap deals that won the release of two U.S. citizens held by the Iranians — Xiyue Wang, a Princeton graduate student, and Michael R. White, a Navy veteran. The other imprisoned Americans are officially regarded by Iran as Iranian citizens, despite their U.S. passports.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced on Monday that the United States would join 58 countries in an initiative aimed at creating a universal approach to confront state sponsored hostage taking and arbitrary detentions.

“We will work with our allies, many of which also have nationals currently detained by the Iranian government, to seek their release and to stand up to Iran’s disgraceful practice of using unjust detentions of foreign nationals as a political tool,” the State Department said through a spokesperson.

When speaking of her husband, Amidi Shargi recited one of her poems about an angel with broken wings who after a long period of sitting still discovers that resilience can help him fly again.

“That angel is Emad. He is by far the kindest gentlest partner, the most present father. He is sitting still in a jail cell without his wings,” said Amidi Shargi, breaking into tears.

Trouble with Iran’s security apparatus started about a year after the couple moved to Tehran, she recalled. By then, Shargi was working as an international vice president of Sarava, a high-profile Iranian venture capital fund with 30 companies in its portfolio and $200 million in foreign investments.

Security forces raided their house, confiscated their passports, electronic equipment and family albums and arrested Shargi. He was detained for eight months at the 2-Alef ward of the Revolutionary Guard’s intelligence unit inside Tehran’s Evin Prison and interrogated about his business ties and travels.

Amidi Shargi was also interrogated several times, she said, and was threatened repeatedly with reprisals if she informed the U.S. authorities or spoke with the media about her husband’s case.

Shargi was released on bail after eight months in December 2018.

In December 2019, the Revolutionary Court issued an order informing Shargi that he has been cleared of all spying and national security charges, according to a copy of the order the family’s lawyer shared with The New York Times.

“We thought our silence had paid off and it was over, and we could leave,” Amidi Shargi said. But it was not that simple.

Two mysterious events worried them: A false Iranian news report that they had been arrested, and the inexplicable refusal of the authorities to return Shargi’s passport.

They both agreed she should fly back to the United States to rejoin their children.

Throughout 2020 he was called before the Revolutionary Court for three hearings. On Nov. 30 the court summoned Shargi and the judge told him he had been tried in absentia and sentenced to 10 years in prison and was presented with a 35-page document convicting him of espionage. His lawyer filed an appeal.

Unbeknown to his family or lawyer, Shargi decided to flee through the border with Iraqi Kurdistan where smugglers have designated routes for trafficking people and goods across the border.

Amidi Shargi spoke to her husband on Dec. 4, she said, and then he did not return her calls or see her frantic texts. She asked acquaintances in Tehran to search for him in their house, at hospitals and the police station.

Iranian authorities offered no information of his whereabouts and the family had no news of him for more than a month.

On Jan. 17, a website affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard reported he had been arrested at a checkpoint in the province of Western Azerbaijan about 12 miles from the Iraq border.

“It was devastating, we all found out through the news and we were calling each other trying to get information,” Amidi Shargi said.

A spokesman for Iran’s Judiciary, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, confirmed the arrest at a news conference in late January without identifying Shargi by name. Esmaeili’s account also differed inexplicably from the Revolutionary Court order that had exonerated Shargi in December 2019. The spokesman said Shargi had been out on bail and had an “ongoing case against him” on espionage and other charges.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to an inquiry about Shargi’s case.

Shargi called his wife last Saturday for the first time since he disappeared. In what she described as his trademark soft-spoken voice, he apologized for not having been in touch sooner.

“I got the girls on the speaker. We said ‘we love you, we miss you, we are praying for you to come back home,’” Amidi Shargi said. He couldn’t talk long or disclose much, she said, except that he was being held at the same place as before, meaning Evin Prison.

In 2017, an Iranian-American couple drew up a list of cities in the United States and Europe where they could settle now that both their daughters had left for college.

In 2017, an Iranian-American couple drew up a list of cities in the United States and Europe where they could settle now that both their daughters had left for college. An extraordinary idea struck the couple, Emad Shargi and Bahareh Amidi Shargi. Move to Iran. They had an attachment to the language, culture and traditions of a homeland they had both left as children. They had traveled to Iran several times over the years and felt a welcoming vibe. Shargi, 56, was a partner at a company in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, leasing and selling private airplanes. Amidi Shargi, 53, a poet, gave public lectures at universities and hospitals — including a TEDx talk about the therapeutic power of poetry. Family members in America, particularly Shargi’s father, warned them against the move, saying the Islamic Republic was “no place for them.” They dismissed the concerns as exaggeration because neither had ever been involved in politics. That decision upended their lives. Shargi is the latest dual American citizen arrested in Iran. He was sentenced on Nov. 30 to 10 years in prison on murky charges of national security violations, after a trial that he not only did not attend but had no idea had been taking place. Amidi Shargi is now living in Washington navigating efforts aimed at securing her husband’s release and containing the growing anxiety of their children and elderly parents. Amidi Shargi spoke out publicly in an interview for the first time, about their ordeal. “Iran felt like we were at home. We traveled all around, took in all the history,” Amidi Shargi said. “We did not think this would happen to him. Not in a million years, not a drop in the sea.” Shargi’s conviction came against the backdrop of other provocative steps Iran has taken since the election of President Joe Biden to pressure the new administration into reversing the “maximum pressure” policy of the former president, Donald Trump. Trump scrapped U.S. participation in the 2015 nuclear agreement and reimposed severe economic sanctions. At least three other American citizens of Iranian descent have been held in Iran for years. “In the past decade, Iran has frequently pursued its foreign policy goals through detention and hostage taking of dual nationals. This latest imprisonment of Emad Shargi is consistent with this track record,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, a New York-based advocacy group. As the Biden administration attempts to define how to deal with Iran, which could include a return to the nuclear deal, families of the imprisoned Americans are calling for the administration to prioritize returning their loved ones in any negotiations. Besides Shargi, those held include Baqer Namazi, a former UNICEF official, his son Siamak Namazi, a businessman, and Morad Tahbaz, an environmentalist entrepreneur. Trump’s administration engaged with Iran in prisoner swap deals that won the release of two U.S. citizens held by the Iranians — Xiyue Wang, a Princeton graduate student, and Michael R. White, a Navy veteran. The other imprisoned Americans are officially regarded by Iran as Iranian citizens, despite their U.S. passports. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced on Monday that the United States would join 58 countries in an initiative aimed at creating a universal approach to confront state sponsored hostage taking and arbitrary detentions. “We will work with our allies, many of which also have nationals currently detained by the Iranian government, to seek their release and to stand up to Iran’s disgraceful practice of using unjust detentions of foreign nationals as a political tool,” the State Department said through a spokesperson. When speaking of her husband, Amidi Shargi recited one of her poems about an angel with broken wings who after a long period of sitting still discovers that resilience can help him fly again. “That angel is Emad. He is by far the kindest gentlest partner, the most present father. He is sitting still in a jail cell without his wings,” said Amidi Shargi, breaking into tears. Trouble with Iran’s security apparatus started about a year after the couple moved to Tehran, she recalled. By then, Shargi was working as an international vice president of Sarava, a high-profile Iranian venture capital fund with 30 companies in its portfolio and $200 million in foreign investments. Security forces raided their house, confiscated their passports, electronic equipment and family albums and arrested Shargi. He was detained for eight months at the 2-Alef ward of the Revolutionary Guard’s intelligence unit inside Tehran’s Evin Prison and interrogated about his business ties and travels. Amidi Shargi was also interrogated several times, she said, and was threatened repeatedly with reprisals if she informed the U.S. authorities or spoke with the media about her husband’s case. Shargi was released on bail after eight months in December 2018. In December 2019, the Revolutionary Court issued an order informing Shargi that he has been cleared of all spying and national security charges, according to a copy of the order the family’s lawyer shared with The New York Times. “We thought our silence had paid off and it was over, and we could leave,” Amidi Shargi said. But it was not that simple. Two mysterious events worried them: A false Iranian news report that they had been arrested, and the inexplicable refusal of the authorities to return Shargi’s passport. They both agreed she should fly back to the United States to rejoin their children. Throughout 2020 he was called before the Revolutionary Court for three hearings. On Nov. 30 the court summoned Shargi and the judge told him he had been tried in absentia and sentenced to 10 years in prison and was presented with a 35-page document convicting him of espionage. His lawyer filed an appeal. Unbeknown to his family or lawyer, Shargi decided to flee through the border with Iraqi Kurdistan where smugglers have designated routes for trafficking people and goods across the border. Amidi Shargi spoke to her husband on Dec. 4, she said, and then he did not return her calls or see her frantic texts. She asked acquaintances in Tehran to search for him in their house, at hospitals and the police station. Iranian authorities offered no information of his whereabouts and the family had no news of him for more than a month. On Jan. 17, a website affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard reported he had been arrested at a checkpoint in the province of Western Azerbaijan about 12 miles from the Iraq border. “It was devastating, we all found out through the news and we were calling each other trying to get information,” Amidi Shargi said. A spokesman for Iran’s Judiciary, Gholamhossein Esmaeili, confirmed the arrest at a news conference in late January without identifying Shargi by name. Esmaeili’s account also differed inexplicably from the Revolutionary Court order that had exonerated Shargi in December 2019. The spokesman said Shargi had been out on bail and had an “ongoing case against him” on espionage and other charges. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond to an inquiry about Shargi’s case. Shargi called his wife last Saturday for the first time since he disappeared. In what she described as his trademark soft-spoken voice, he apologized for not having been in touch sooner. “I got the girls on the speaker. We said ‘we love you, we miss you, we are praying for you to come back home,’” Amidi Shargi said. He couldn’t talk long or disclose much, she said, except that he was being held at the same place as before, meaning Evin Prison.

They thought, ‘why not Iran,’ and the decision upended their lives

Iran Monday dismissed an offer by France to mediate between the United States and the Islamic republic in order to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

"The nuclear deal has no need for a mediator," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters without specifically mentioning France.

He was responding to a question about recent comments by the country's president.

Emmanuel Macron said last week he was ready to act as an "honest broker" in talks between the new US administration of President Joe Biden and Tehran after the multilateral deal was torpedoed by ex-president Donald Trump.

"I will do whatever I can to support any initiative from the US side to re-engage in a demanding dialogue, and I will... try to be an honest broker and a committed broker in this dialogue," Macron said.

The landmark 2015 deal has been hanging by a thread since the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. A year later Iran suspended its compliance with most key nuclear commitments in the deal.

The Biden administration has expressed willingness to return to the deal, but insisted that Tehran first resume full compliance.

On Sunday Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the US must "completely lift" sanctions first, followed by verification by Tehran, before the Islamic republic returns to its commitments. This was Iran's "definite policy" and Tehran "will not turn back from it", he said.

Khatibzadeh also insisted that there was no need to renegotiate the nuclear deal.

Last week, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani likewise ruled out changes to the nuclear deal, saying "no clause of the JCPOA will change".

But the US State Department said last week that it was too early to accept the Iranian proposal, and reiterated Washington's call for Tehran to come back into full compliance. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Iran Monday dismissed an offer by France to mediate between the United States and the Islamic republic in order to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. "The nuclear deal has no need for a mediator," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters without specifically mentioning France.

Iran Monday dismissed an offer by France to mediate between the United States and the Islamic republic in order to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. "The nuclear deal has no need for a mediator," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters without specifically mentioning France. He was responding to a question about recent comments by the country's president. Emmanuel Macron said last week he was ready to act as an "honest broker" in talks between the new US administration of President Joe Biden and Tehran after the multilateral deal was torpedoed by ex-president Donald Trump. "I will do whatever I can to support any initiative from the US side to re-engage in a demanding dialogue, and I will... try to be an honest broker and a committed broker in this dialogue," Macron said. The landmark 2015 deal has been hanging by a thread since the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. A year later Iran suspended its compliance with most key nuclear commitments in the deal. The Biden administration has expressed willingness to return to the deal, but insisted that Tehran first resume full compliance. On Sunday Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the US must "completely lift" sanctions first, followed by verification by Tehran, before the Islamic republic returns to its commitments. This was Iran's "definite policy" and Tehran "will not turn back from it", he said. Khatibzadeh also insisted that there was no need to renegotiate the nuclear deal. Last week, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani likewise ruled out changes to the nuclear deal, saying "no clause of the JCPOA will change". But the US State Department said last week that it was too early to accept the Iranian proposal, and reiterated Washington's call for Tehran to come back into full compliance.

Iran dismisses French mediation on nuclear deal with US

Joe Biden, in his election campaign, made an impassioned case to undo every wrong his Republican predecessor had done, and won over America quite convincingly. And, now when he has successfully donned the hat of the US president, he has impeccably taken on the challenges.

So when China thought it had a chance, or Iran -- for that matter -- said it would only return to its nuclear commitments, when US lifts the sanctions, Biden surprised them.

Biden, on a CBS interview aired Sunday, said the US rivalry with China would most likely take the form of "extreme competition" rather than conflict between the two world powers.

He added he has not spoken with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping since he became US president.

"He's very tough. He doesn't have -- and I don't mean it as a criticism, just the reality -- he doesn't have a democratic, small D, bone in his body," Biden said.

When asked about Iran's condition to resume nuclear commitments, Biden offered a clear reply: "No."

He said he won't lift sanctions against Tehran as long as the Islamic republic is not adhering to its nuclear deal commitments.&nbsp;

The journalist then asked if the Iranians would first have to stop enriching uranium, which drew an affirmative nod from Biden.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-wont-resume-nuclear-commitments-until-us-lifts-sanctions-361956">Also read |&nbsp;Iran says won't resume nuclear commitments until US lifts sanctions</a>

Former US president Donald Trump exited the nuclear accord between Iran and six powers in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.

Iran a year later suspended its compliance with most key nuclear commitments to the deal.

The Biden administration has expressed willingness to return to the deal, but insisted that Tehran first resume full compliance.

On January 4, Iran announced it has stepped up its uranium enrichment process to 20 per cent purity, far above the 3.67 per cent level permitted by the deal, but far below the amount required for an atomic bomb. 
&nbsp;

Joe Biden, in his election campaign, made an impassioned case to undo every wrong his Republican predecessor had done, and won over America quite convincingly. And, now when he has successfully donned the hat of the US president, he has impeccably taken on the challenges.

Joe Biden, in his election campaign, made an impassioned case to undo every wrong his Republican predecessor had done, and won over America quite convincingly. And, now when he has successfully donned the hat of the US president, he has impeccably taken on the challenges. So when China thought it had a chance, or Iran -- for that matter -- said it would only return to its nuclear commitments, when US lifts the sanctions, Biden surprised them. Biden, on a CBS interview aired Sunday, said the US rivalry with China would most likely take the form of "extreme competition" rather than conflict between the two world powers. He added he has not spoken with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping since he became US president. "He's very tough. He doesn't have -- and I don't mean it as a criticism, just the reality -- he doesn't have a democratic, small D, bone in his body," Biden said. When asked about Iran's condition to resume nuclear commitments, Biden offered a clear reply: "No." He said he won't lift sanctions against Tehran as long as the Islamic republic is not adhering to its nuclear deal commitments. The journalist then asked if the Iranians would first have to stop enriching uranium, which drew an affirmative nod from Biden. Also read | Iran says won't resume nuclear commitments until US lifts sanctions Former US president Donald Trump exited the nuclear accord between Iran and six powers in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. Iran a year later suspended its compliance with most key nuclear commitments to the deal. The Biden administration has expressed willingness to return to the deal, but insisted that Tehran first resume full compliance. On January 4, Iran announced it has stepped up its uranium enrichment process to 20 per cent purity, far above the 3.67 per cent level permitted by the deal, but far below the amount required for an atomic bomb.

Biden on fire: New US president takes on China, Iran

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said the US must "completely lift" sanctions first, followed by verification by Tehran, if it wants them to reverse their nuclear steps.

"Iran has fulfilled all its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal, not the United States and the three European countries. If they want Iran to return to its commitments, the United States must lift all sanctions first," Khamenei wrote on Twitter.

"After verifying whether all sanctions have been lifted, then we will return to full compliance," he added.

Former US president Donald Trump exited the nuclear accord between Iran and six powers in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.

But the new US president, Joe Biden, who took office last month, said if Tehran returned to strict compliance with the 2015 nuclear pact, Washington would follow suit and use that as a springboard to a broader agreement that might restrict Iran's missile development and regional activities.

Iran has breached the deal in a step-by-step response to Trump's "maximum pressure" policy, but it has repeatedly said it could quickly reverse those violations if US sanctions are removed.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said the US must "completely lift" sanctions first, followed by verification by Tehran, if it wants them to reverse their nuclear steps.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said the US must "completely lift" sanctions first, followed by verification by Tehran, if it wants them to reverse their nuclear steps. "Iran has fulfilled all its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal, not the United States and the three European countries. If they want Iran to return to its commitments, the United States must lift all sanctions first," Khamenei wrote on Twitter. "After verifying whether all sanctions have been lifted, then we will return to full compliance," he added. Former US president Donald Trump exited the nuclear accord between Iran and six powers in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran. But the new US president, Joe Biden, who took office last month, said if Tehran returned to strict compliance with the 2015 nuclear pact, Washington would follow suit and use that as a springboard to a broader agreement that might restrict Iran's missile development and regional activities. Iran has breached the deal in a step-by-step response to Trump's "maximum pressure" policy, but it has repeatedly said it could quickly reverse those violations if US sanctions are removed.

Iran says won't resume nuclear commitments until US lifts sanctions

Judges at the highest U.N. court for disputes between states on Wednesday ruled that they can hear a case filed by Iran against the United States seeking to have sanctions against Tehran lifted.

A majority of a panel of 16 judges found that the International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, has jurisdiction in the dispute.

Iran brought the case in 2018 after President Donald Trump`s administration imposed sanctions, following Trump`s decision to abandon a 2015 pact under which Iran accepted curbs to its nuclear programme. New U.S. President Joe Biden has said he wants to return to that pact, although Tehran and Washington still disagree on steps to be taken for that to happen.

The United States had tried to argue that Iran could not base claims at the World Court on a 1955 bilateral friendship pact. However judges found the treaty, signed decades before Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution and the sharp deterioration in ties with Washington, could be used as a basis for the court`s jurisdiction.

"The court unanimously rejects the preliminary objections to its jurisdiction raised by the Unites States of America according to which the subject matter of the dispute does not relate to the interpretation or application of the Treaty of Amity," presiding judge Abdulqawi Yusuf said.

Other U.S. objections to the case were also dismissed, meaning Iran`s claim will now move on to a hearing on the merits. A final decision would be likely to take several more years.

The ICJ’s rulings are binding, but it has no power to enforce them, and the United States and Iran are both among a handful of countries to have ignored its decisions.

Judges at the highest U.N. court for disputes between states on Wednesday ruled that they can hear a case filed by Iran against the United States seeking to have sanctions against Tehran lifted.

Judges at the highest U.N. court for disputes between states on Wednesday ruled that they can hear a case filed by Iran against the United States seeking to have sanctions against Tehran lifted. A majority of a panel of 16 judges found that the International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, has jurisdiction in the dispute. Iran brought the case in 2018 after President Donald Trump`s administration imposed sanctions, following Trump`s decision to abandon a 2015 pact under which Iran accepted curbs to its nuclear programme. New U.S. President Joe Biden has said he wants to return to that pact, although Tehran and Washington still disagree on steps to be taken for that to happen. The United States had tried to argue that Iran could not base claims at the World Court on a 1955 bilateral friendship pact. However judges found the treaty, signed decades before Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution and the sharp deterioration in ties with Washington, could be used as a basis for the court`s jurisdiction. "The court unanimously rejects the preliminary objections to its jurisdiction raised by the Unites States of America according to which the subject matter of the dispute does not relate to the interpretation or application of the Treaty of Amity," presiding judge Abdulqawi Yusuf said. Other U.S. objections to the case were also dismissed, meaning Iran`s claim will now move on to a hearing on the merits. A final decision would be likely to take several more years. The ICJ’s rulings are binding, but it has no power to enforce them, and the United States and Iran are both among a handful of countries to have ignored its decisions.

World Court to hear sanctions dispute filed by Iran against United States

The new US government, under President Joe Biden, has named Rob Malley as its special envoy to Iran.

Malley is known as the architect of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran -- one of the chief negotiators on the 2015 nuclear deal reached by Iran and world powers, under which Tehran was promised economic relief for major curbs in its contested nuclear programme.

The deal was reached under Barack Obama, when President Joe Biden was his number two.

Malley has been serving as head of the International Crisis Group, an independent non-governmental organisation focussed on conflict resolution.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is "building a dedicated team" to address Washington's relations with Iran, to be led by Malley, a State Department official said Friday.

Malley "brings to the position a track record of success&nbsp;negotiating constraints on&nbsp;Iran's nuclear program," the State Department official said.

"The Secretary is confident he and his team will be able to do that once again."

In 2018, Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the 2015 accord, which was also signed by Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.

The Trump administration deemed the deal not tough enough, and felt it should have also covered what it saw as Iran's "destabilising" activities in the Middle East. It slapped tough sanctions on Tehran.

This week, Blinken confirmed the new US administration's intention to rejoin the accord -- once Tehran meets its commitments.

Iran responded to the tough Trump-era sanctions by reducing its compliance with the deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). It wants Washington to make the first move.

The new US government, under President Joe Biden, has named Rob Malley as its special envoy to Iran. Malley is known as the architect of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran -- one of the chief negotiators on the 2015 nuclear deal reached by Iran and world powers, under which Tehran was promised economic relief for major curbs in its contested nuclear programme.

The new US government, under President Joe Biden, has named Rob Malley as its special envoy to Iran. Malley is known as the architect of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran -- one of the chief negotiators on the 2015 nuclear deal reached by Iran and world powers, under which Tehran was promised economic relief for major curbs in its contested nuclear programme. The deal was reached under Barack Obama, when President Joe Biden was his number two. Malley has been serving as head of the International Crisis Group, an independent non-governmental organisation focussed on conflict resolution. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is "building a dedicated team" to address Washington's relations with Iran, to be led by Malley, a State Department official said Friday. Malley "brings to the position a track record of success negotiating constraints on Iran's nuclear program," the State Department official said. "The Secretary is confident he and his team will be able to do that once again." In 2018, Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the 2015 accord, which was also signed by Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. The Trump administration deemed the deal not tough enough, and felt it should have also covered what it saw as Iran's "destabilising" activities in the Middle East. It slapped tough sanctions on Tehran. This week, Blinken confirmed the new US administration's intention to rejoin the accord -- once Tehran meets its commitments. Iran responded to the tough Trump-era sanctions by reducing its compliance with the deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). It wants Washington to make the first move.

US names 2015 nuke deal negotiator Rob Malley as new envoy to Iran

Iran may cooperate with the United States on oil and security in the Gulf, but not on Israel, the Iranian foreign minister said in remarks published on Saturday.

Ties between Tehran and Washington worsened under the administration of former President Donald Trump, who in 2018 withdrew from Iran`s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled its economy.

Iran called for action and “not just words” shortly after Joe Biden was sworn in as president on Wednesday. Biden has said Washington will rejoin the nuclear deal if Iran resumes strict compliance.

“In my personal opinion, we should define our relationship with the United States: To tell the U.S. that ‘we will not cooperate with you on the issue of Israel and we will disagree with you,`” Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an interview with the reformist Etmad newspaper.

Iran, he said, “will not allow you to interfere in its internal affairs, but we have no problem working with you on the question of oil. We have no problem with ensuring the security of the Persian Gulf, though we believe that foreign presence in the Persian Gulf causes insecurity and you should not be there.”

Iran may cooperate with the United States on oil and security in the Gulf, but not on Israel, the Iranian foreign minister said in remarks published on Saturday.

Iran may cooperate with the United States on oil and security in the Gulf, but not on Israel, the Iranian foreign minister said in remarks published on Saturday. Ties between Tehran and Washington worsened under the administration of former President Donald Trump, who in 2018 withdrew from Iran`s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and reimposed sanctions that have crippled its economy. Iran called for action and “not just words” shortly after Joe Biden was sworn in as president on Wednesday. Biden has said Washington will rejoin the nuclear deal if Iran resumes strict compliance. “In my personal opinion, we should define our relationship with the United States: To tell the U.S. that ‘we will not cooperate with you on the issue of Israel and we will disagree with you,`” Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an interview with the reformist Etmad newspaper. Iran, he said, “will not allow you to interfere in its internal affairs, but we have no problem working with you on the question of oil. We have no problem with ensuring the security of the Persian Gulf, though we believe that foreign presence in the Persian Gulf causes insecurity and you should not be there.”

Iran's Zarif open to oil, Gulf security contacts with US, not on Israel

Twitter&nbsp;on Friday suspended what it said was a fake account&nbsp;linked to Iran's Supreme Leader, hours after it carried the image of a golfer resembling former US president Donald Trump apparently being targetted by a drone alongside a vow to avenge the killing of a top Iranian general in a US drone attack.

The post, on a Persian-language account linked to Khamenei's website, had carried the text of remarks by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in December, in which he said "Revenge is certain". That speech renewed a vow of vengeance ahead of the first anniversary of the killing of top military commander General Qassem Soleimani in the attack in Iraq.

Twitter Inc, however, clarified it had not suspended the account of Iran's Supreme Leader.

A Twitter spokeswoman said the @khamenei_site account was suspended for violating the company's platform manipulation and spam policy, specifically the creation of fake accounts.

Asked if the @khamenei_site account was fake, she said it was.

“Revenge is inevitable. Soleimani’s killer and the man who gave the orders must face vengeance,” the post on the @khamenei_site Twitter account said late Thursday, warning there was no escape from payback for the US strike outside Baghdad airport which killed Iran’s foreign military operations chief General Qassem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant.

"Revenge can take place at any moment."

<img alt="Khamenei tweet.jpg" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73d6ec2e-c3b0-4aa2-903d-b0a71d83d2eb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Khamenei%20tweet.jpg" />

However, Khamenei’s office runs several accounts and the others were still working.

The golfer image tweet was retweeted by Khamenei's main Persian-language account @Khamenei-fa, although it appeared to have been deleted later. The text and graphic of the tweet was also carried by Khamenei's official website (farsi.khamenei.ir) and widely quoted by Iranian media.

Khamenei's @Khamenei_fa account and his main Twitter account in English, which did not carry the golfer image tweet, were still operational.

<img alt="Account suspended" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4aa95871-ed37-43b3-9cf2-499244840917" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Account%20suspended.jpg" />

Trump left office on Wednesday and flew straight to his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Florida, without attending the inauguration of his successor President Joe Biden.

Iranian officials have pledged repeatedly that Soleimani will be avenged.

Earlier this month, on the first anniversary of his killing, judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi warned that not even Trump was "immune from justice" and that Soleimani's killers would "not be safe anywhere in the world".

Twitter had also suspended Trump’s account after the storming of the US Capitol citing the “risk of further incitement of violence.” 
&nbsp;

Twitter on Friday suspended what it said was a fake account linked to Iran's Supreme Leader, hours after it carried the image of a golfer resembling former US president Donald Trump apparently being targetted by a drone alongside a vow to avenge the killing of a top Iranian general in a US drone attack.

Twitter on Friday suspended what it said was a fake account linked to Iran's Supreme Leader, hours after it carried the image of a golfer resembling former US president Donald Trump apparently being targetted by a drone alongside a vow to avenge the killing of a top Iranian general in a US drone attack. The post, on a Persian-language account linked to Khamenei's website, had carried the text of remarks by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in December, in which he said "Revenge is certain". That speech renewed a vow of vengeance ahead of the first anniversary of the killing of top military commander General Qassem Soleimani in the attack in Iraq. Twitter Inc, however, clarified it had not suspended the account of Iran's Supreme Leader. A Twitter spokeswoman said the @khamenei_site account was suspended for violating the company's platform manipulation and spam policy, specifically the creation of fake accounts. Asked if the @khamenei_site account was fake, she said it was. “Revenge is inevitable. Soleimani’s killer and the man who gave the orders must face vengeance,” the post on the @khamenei_site Twitter account said late Thursday, warning there was no escape from payback for the US strike outside Baghdad airport which killed Iran’s foreign military operations chief General Qassem Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant. "Revenge can take place at any moment." However, Khamenei’s office runs several accounts and the others were still working. The golfer image tweet was retweeted by Khamenei's main Persian-language account @Khamenei-fa, although it appeared to have been deleted later. The text and graphic of the tweet was also carried by Khamenei's official website (farsi.khamenei.ir) and widely quoted by Iranian media. Khamenei's @Khamenei_fa account and his main Twitter account in English, which did not carry the golfer image tweet, were still operational. Trump left office on Wednesday and flew straight to his Mar-a-Lago golf club in Florida, without attending the inauguration of his successor President Joe Biden. Iranian officials have pledged repeatedly that Soleimani will be avenged. Earlier this month, on the first anniversary of his killing, judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi warned that not even Trump was "immune from justice" and that Soleimani's killers would "not be safe anywhere in the world". Twitter had also suspended Trump’s account after the storming of the US Capitol citing the “risk of further incitement of violence.”

Twitter suspends account linked to Khamenei's website, clarifies it's fake and not his

The United States has imposed sanctions on companies in Iran, China and the United Arab Emirates for doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines over conventional arms proliferation.

Sanctions have been levied on three Iranian entities also.

These sanctions are the latest in a series of measures aimed at stepping up pressure on Tehran in the waning days of President Donald Trump’s administration, which formally ends on Wednesday.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington had sanctioned seven companies, including Chinese-based Jiangyin Mascot Special Steel Co and UAE-based Accenture Building Materials, and two people for shipping steel to or from Iran.

He said Iran’s Marine Industries Organisation, Aerospace Industries Organisation and the Iran Aviation Industries Organisation had also been blacklisted over conventional arms proliferation.

In a statement later on Friday, Pompeo said he was also increasing the scope of metals-related sanctions against Iran administered by the State Department.

Those who knowingly transfer 15 materials which the State Department says are used in connection with Iran’s nuclear, military or ballistic missile programs, including certain types of aluminum and steel, would be subject to sanctions, he said.

During his four years in office, Trump has tried to force Tehran back into talks over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and its activities in the Middle East. Saying the agreement did not go far enough, Trump in 2018 quit an Iran nuclear deal, which Tehran struck with world powers in 2015 to rein in its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.

Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, who will succeed Trump on Wednesday, has said he will return to the 2015 nuclear pact if Iran resumes strict compliance with it.

(with inputs from Reuters)

The United States has imposed sanctions on companies in Iran, China and the United Arab Emirates for doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines over conventional arms proliferation.

The United States has imposed sanctions on companies in Iran, China and the United Arab Emirates for doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines over conventional arms proliferation. Sanctions have been levied on three Iranian entities also. These sanctions are the latest in a series of measures aimed at stepping up pressure on Tehran in the waning days of President Donald Trump’s administration, which formally ends on Wednesday. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington had sanctioned seven companies, including Chinese-based Jiangyin Mascot Special Steel Co and UAE-based Accenture Building Materials, and two people for shipping steel to or from Iran. He said Iran’s Marine Industries Organisation, Aerospace Industries Organisation and the Iran Aviation Industries Organisation had also been blacklisted over conventional arms proliferation. In a statement later on Friday, Pompeo said he was also increasing the scope of metals-related sanctions against Iran administered by the State Department. Those who knowingly transfer 15 materials which the State Department says are used in connection with Iran’s nuclear, military or ballistic missile programs, including certain types of aluminum and steel, would be subject to sanctions, he said. During his four years in office, Trump has tried to force Tehran back into talks over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and its activities in the Middle East. Saying the agreement did not go far enough, Trump in 2018 quit an Iran nuclear deal, which Tehran struck with world powers in 2015 to rein in its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief. Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, who will succeed Trump on Wednesday, has said he will return to the 2015 nuclear pact if Iran resumes strict compliance with it. (with inputs from Reuters)

US imposes fresh sanctions on Iran in final days of Trump presidency

Iran has said it will expel United Nations nuclear watchdog inspectors unless US sanctions are lifted by a February 21 deadline set by the hardline-dominated parliament.

Parliament passed a law in November that obliges the government to halt inspections of its nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency and step up uranium enrichment beyond the limit set under Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal if sanctions are not eased.

Iran's Guardian Council watchdog body approved the law on December 2 and the government has said it will implement it.

In a statement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran had an obligation to allow the inspectors access.

"Once again the Iranian regime is using its nuclear programme to extort the international community and threaten regional security," Pompeo said.

Iran said on Monday it had resumed 20 per cent uranium enrichment at an underground nuclear facility, breaching the nuclear pact with major powers and possibly complicating efforts by US President-elect Joe Biden to rejoin the deal.

Iran began violating the accord in 2019 in response to President Donald Trump's withdrawal of the United States from it in 2018 and the reimposition of US sanctions that had been lifted under the deal. Tehran often says it can quickly reverse its breaches if Washington's sanctions are removed.

Iran has said it will expel United Nations nuclear watchdog inspectors unless US sanctions are lifted by a February 21 deadline set by the hardline-dominated parliament.

Iran has said it will expel United Nations nuclear watchdog inspectors unless US sanctions are lifted by a February 21 deadline set by the hardline-dominated parliament. Parliament passed a law in November that obliges the government to halt inspections of its nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency and step up uranium enrichment beyond the limit set under Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal if sanctions are not eased. Iran's Guardian Council watchdog body approved the law on December 2 and the government has said it will implement it. In a statement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran had an obligation to allow the inspectors access. "Once again the Iranian regime is using its nuclear programme to extort the international community and threaten regional security," Pompeo said. Iran said on Monday it had resumed 20 per cent uranium enrichment at an underground nuclear facility, breaching the nuclear pact with major powers and possibly complicating efforts by US President-elect Joe Biden to rejoin the deal. Iran began violating the accord in 2019 in response to President Donald Trump's withdrawal of the United States from it in 2018 and the reimposition of US sanctions that had been lifted under the deal. Tehran often says it can quickly reverse its breaches if Washington's sanctions are removed.

Iran says will expel UN nuclear inspectors unless US sanctions are lifted

Iran is in no hurry to see the US return to a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers after Joe Biden takes office this month, its supreme leader said Friday.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said it was not a question of "whether the United States returns or not", it was a matter of it lifting its unilateral sanctions.

"We are in no rush and we are not insisting on their return. Our demand, which is both logical and rational, is the lifting of sanctions" that outgoing US President Donald Trump reimposed after quitting the deal in 2018.

"We are talking about a right which has been stolen from the Iranian nation," Khamenei said in a televised speech.

"If the sanctions are lifted, the return of the Americans makes sense."

Since 2019, Iran has gradually suspended implementation of most of its key obligations under the nuclear deal, which set strict limits on its activities in return for the lifting of sanctions.

Other parties to the agreement, notably Britain, France and Germany, have pressed Iran to return to its commitments in a bid to rescue the deal, but Iran has repeatedly demanded that the United States first lift its crippling sanctions.

"When the other party meets practically none of its obligations, it is not logical for the Islamic republic to honour all of its commitments," Khamenei said.

"If they return to their commitments, we will return to ours."

Iran is in no hurry to see the US return to a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers after Joe Biden takes office this month, its supreme leader said Friday. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said it was not a question of "whether the United States returns or not", it was a matter of it lifting its unilateral sanctions.

Iran is in no hurry to see the US return to a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers after Joe Biden takes office this month, its supreme leader said Friday. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said it was not a question of "whether the United States returns or not", it was a matter of it lifting its unilateral sanctions. "We are in no rush and we are not insisting on their return. Our demand, which is both logical and rational, is the lifting of sanctions" that outgoing US President Donald Trump reimposed after quitting the deal in 2018. "We are talking about a right which has been stolen from the Iranian nation," Khamenei said in a televised speech. "If the sanctions are lifted, the return of the Americans makes sense." Since 2019, Iran has gradually suspended implementation of most of its key obligations under the nuclear deal, which set strict limits on its activities in return for the lifting of sanctions. Other parties to the agreement, notably Britain, France and Germany, have pressed Iran to return to its commitments in a bid to rescue the deal, but Iran has repeatedly demanded that the United States first lift its crippling sanctions. "When the other party meets practically none of its obligations, it is not logical for the Islamic republic to honour all of its commitments," Khamenei said. "If they return to their commitments, we will return to ours."

Iran in no rush to see US return to nuclear deal: Khamenei

The United States on Tuesday blacklisted a Chinese company that makes elements for steel production, 12 Iranian steel and metals makers and three foreign-based sales agents of an Iranian metals and mining holding company, seeking to deprive Iran of revenues as U.S. President Donald Trump`s term winds down.

The U.S. Treasury Department, in a statement, named the China-based company as Kaifeng Pingmei New Carbon Materials Technology Co Ltd. (KFCC), saying it specialized in the manufacture of carbon materials and provided thousands of metric tonnes of materials to Iranian steel companies between December 2019 and June 2020.

No one at KFCC, which makes graphite electrodes, was available for comment on Wednesday. Filings show the company is owned by Henan Yicheng New Energy, which said it was unaware of the situation.

Shares in Yicheng, which is ultimately controlled by China`s Henan province, fell as much as 6.7% to a two-week low on Wednesday. When Yicheng was buying KFCC in 2019, it said exports - to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe - accounted for about half of KFCC`s core business.

Among the 12 Iranian companies blacklisted are the Pasargad Steel Complex and the Gilan Steel Complex Co, both of which were designated under Executive Order 13871 for operating in the Iranian steel sector.

The others are: Iran-based Middle East Mines and Mineral Industries Development Holding Co (MIDHCO), Khazar Steel Co, Vian Steel Complex, South Rouhina Steel Complex, Yazd Industrial Constructional Steel Rolling Mill, West Alborz Steel Complex, Esfarayen Industrial Complex, Bonab Steel Industry Complex, Sirjan Iranian Steel and Zarand Iranian Steel Co.

The Treasury said it was also designating MIDHCO’s Germany-based subsidiary GMI Projects Hamburg GmbH, its China-based World Mining Industry Co Ltd and U.K.-based GMI Projects Ltd for being owned or controlled by MIDHCO.

"The Trump Administration remains committed to denying revenue flowing to the Iranian regime as it continues to sponsor terrorist groups, support oppressive regimes, and seek weapons of mass destruction," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the statement.

Trump`s term ends on Jan. 20, when Democrat President-elect Joe Biden is to be sworn in to succeed him.

The United States on Tuesday blacklisted a Chinese company that makes elements for steel production, 12 Iranian steel and metals makers and three foreign-based sales agents of an Iranian metals and mining holding company, seeking to deprive Iran of revenues as U.

The United States on Tuesday blacklisted a Chinese company that makes elements for steel production, 12 Iranian steel and metals makers and three foreign-based sales agents of an Iranian metals and mining holding company, seeking to deprive Iran of revenues as U.S. President Donald Trump`s term winds down. The U.S. Treasury Department, in a statement, named the China-based company as Kaifeng Pingmei New Carbon Materials Technology Co Ltd. (KFCC), saying it specialized in the manufacture of carbon materials and provided thousands of metric tonnes of materials to Iranian steel companies between December 2019 and June 2020. No one at KFCC, which makes graphite electrodes, was available for comment on Wednesday. Filings show the company is owned by Henan Yicheng New Energy, which said it was unaware of the situation. Shares in Yicheng, which is ultimately controlled by China`s Henan province, fell as much as 6.7% to a two-week low on Wednesday. When Yicheng was buying KFCC in 2019, it said exports - to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe - accounted for about half of KFCC`s core business. Among the 12 Iranian companies blacklisted are the Pasargad Steel Complex and the Gilan Steel Complex Co, both of which were designated under Executive Order 13871 for operating in the Iranian steel sector. The others are: Iran-based Middle East Mines and Mineral Industries Development Holding Co (MIDHCO), Khazar Steel Co, Vian Steel Complex, South Rouhina Steel Complex, Yazd Industrial Constructional Steel Rolling Mill, West Alborz Steel Complex, Esfarayen Industrial Complex, Bonab Steel Industry Complex, Sirjan Iranian Steel and Zarand Iranian Steel Co. The Treasury said it was also designating MIDHCO’s Germany-based subsidiary GMI Projects Hamburg GmbH, its China-based World Mining Industry Co Ltd and U.K.-based GMI Projects Ltd for being owned or controlled by MIDHCO. "The Trump Administration remains committed to denying revenue flowing to the Iranian regime as it continues to sponsor terrorist groups, support oppressive regimes, and seek weapons of mass destruction," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the statement. Trump`s term ends on Jan. 20, when Democrat President-elect Joe Biden is to be sworn in to succeed him.

US hits Iran with fresh sanctions as Trump term nears end

Iran hanged two men on Sunday for "terrorist acts" and another for murder and armed robbery, the judiciary's official Mizan Online news agency said.

The three were executed early Sunday morning in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province.

Two were named as Hassan Dehvari and Elias Qalandarzehi, arrested in April 2014 after being found with "a large amount of explosives" and weapons.

The pair were convicted of the abduction, bombing, murder of security forces and civilians, and of working with the jihadist Jaish al-Adl ("Army of Justice") group, Mizan said.

Dehvari and Qalandarzehi were also arrested in possession of documents from Jaish al-Adl on "how to make bombs" as well as "takfiri fatwas", terms used by Iran's Shiite authorities to refer to decrees issued by Sunni jihadists.

Jaish al-Adl has carried out several high-profile bombings and abductions in Iran in recent years.

In February last year, 27 members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards were killed in a suicide attack claimed by the group.

Jaish al-Adl was formed in 2012 as a successor to Sunni extremist group Jundallah ("Soldiers of God"), which waged a deadly insurgency for a decade before it was severely weakened by the capture and execution of its leader Abdolmalek Rigi in 2010.

The third man executed was named as Omid Mahmoudzehi. He was convicted of armed robbery and the murder of civilians, Mizan said. 
&nbsp;

Iran hanged two men on Sunday for "terrorist acts" and another for murder and armed robbery, the judiciary's official Mizan Online news agency said. The three were executed early Sunday morning in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province.

Iran hanged two men on Sunday for "terrorist acts" and another for murder and armed robbery, the judiciary's official Mizan Online news agency said. The three were executed early Sunday morning in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province. Two were named as Hassan Dehvari and Elias Qalandarzehi, arrested in April 2014 after being found with "a large amount of explosives" and weapons. The pair were convicted of the abduction, bombing, murder of security forces and civilians, and of working with the jihadist Jaish al-Adl ("Army of Justice") group, Mizan said. Dehvari and Qalandarzehi were also arrested in possession of documents from Jaish al-Adl on "how to make bombs" as well as "takfiri fatwas", terms used by Iran's Shiite authorities to refer to decrees issued by Sunni jihadists. Jaish al-Adl has carried out several high-profile bombings and abductions in Iran in recent years. In February last year, 27 members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards were killed in a suicide attack claimed by the group. Jaish al-Adl was formed in 2012 as a successor to Sunni extremist group Jundallah ("Soldiers of God"), which waged a deadly insurgency for a decade before it was severely weakened by the capture and execution of its leader Abdolmalek Rigi in 2010. The third man executed was named as Omid Mahmoudzehi. He was convicted of armed robbery and the murder of civilians, Mizan said.

Three executed in Iran for 'terrorist' acts and murder

Iran has said the United States approved its fund transfer to buy coronavirus vaccines from overseas as its daily death toll fell to a three-month low.

Central Bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati Thursday said an Iranian bank had received backing from the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control to transfer the money to a Swiss bank to pay for the vaccines.

"They have put sanctions on all our banks. They accepted this one case under the pressure of world public opinion," Hemmati told state TV.

Iran would pay around $244 million for initial imports of 16.8 million doses of vaccines from COVAX, a multi-agency group dedicated to assuring fair access to vaccines for low- and middle-income countries.

Iranian officials have said repeatedly that US sanctions are preventing them from making payments to COVAX, to which some 190 economies have signed up.

Iran's Shifa Pharmed began registering volunteers this week for human trials of the country's first domestic COVID-19 vaccine candidate, Iranian media reported, as a factional dispute appeared to be brewing over the use of imports.

Officials have cautioned that the danger of a resurgence in infections looms large.

US President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers in 2018 and imposed new sanctions on the country.

President-elect Joe Biden's coming to power has raised the possibility that Washington could rejoin the agreement.

Iran has said the United States approved its fund transfer to buy coronavirus vaccines from overseas as its daily death toll fell to a three-month low. Central Bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati Thursday said an Iranian bank had received backing from the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control to transfer the money to a Swiss bank to pay for the vaccines.

Iran has said the United States approved its fund transfer to buy coronavirus vaccines from overseas as its daily death toll fell to a three-month low. Central Bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati Thursday said an Iranian bank had received backing from the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control to transfer the money to a Swiss bank to pay for the vaccines. "They have put sanctions on all our banks. They accepted this one case under the pressure of world public opinion," Hemmati told state TV. Iran would pay around $244 million for initial imports of 16.8 million doses of vaccines from COVAX, a multi-agency group dedicated to assuring fair access to vaccines for low- and middle-income countries. Iranian officials have said repeatedly that US sanctions are preventing them from making payments to COVAX, to which some 190 economies have signed up. Iran's Shifa Pharmed began registering volunteers this week for human trials of the country's first domestic COVID-19 vaccine candidate, Iranian media reported, as a factional dispute appeared to be brewing over the use of imports. Officials have cautioned that the danger of a resurgence in infections looms large. US President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers in 2018 and imposed new sanctions on the country. President-elect Joe Biden's coming to power has raised the possibility that Washington could rejoin the agreement.

Iran says has won US approval to transfer funds to buy Covid vaccines

US President Donald Trump has said he would hold "Iran responsible" in the event of a fatal attack on Americans in Iraq. The outgoing president made this statement ahead of the first anniversary of the killing of a top Iranian general in a US air strike approaches.

"Our embassy in Baghdad got hit Sunday by several rockets," Trump said Wednesday on Twitter, referring to an attack that caused damage but no deaths.

"Guess where they came from: IRAN," he added.&nbsp;

"Now we hear chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq," he added, before offering "some friendly health advice to Iran: if one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over," he said.

In response, the Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javid Zarif tweeted on Thursday: "Putting your own citizens at risk abroad won't divert attention from catastrophic failures at home."

He also attached an image of years-old Trump tweets that claimed ex-president Barack Obama would have started a war with Iran to win re-election, as well as a&nbsp;screengrab of a graph that purported to show the severity of the coronavirus pandemic in the US.

The US military command that covers the region has also said that the rocket attack "was almost&nbsp;certainly conducted by an Iranian-backed rogue militia group."

It said in a statement that while it "caused&nbsp;no US injuries or casualties, the attack did damage&nbsp;buildings in the US embassy compound, and was clearly NOT&nbsp;intended to avoid casualties."&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The United States will hold Iran accountable for the deaths of&nbsp;any Americans that result from the work of these Iranian-backed rogue&nbsp;militia groups," it added.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had already pointed the finger at Tehran.

Washington has recently reduced its diplomatic staff in the Iraqi capital amid speculations that it could close the mission altogether.

Trump ordered the drone attack on January 3, 2020 to kill the powerful Iranian general while he was in Baghdad. The air strike came after Iranian-backed militias had fired rockets at US targets in Iraq, in a scenario echoed by the latest strikes against the US embassy.

US President Donald Trump has said he would hold "Iran responsible" in the event of a fatal attack on Americans in Iraq. The outgoing president made this statement ahead of the first anniversary of the killing of a top Iranian general in a US air strike approaches.

US President Donald Trump has said he would hold "Iran responsible" in the event of a fatal attack on Americans in Iraq. The outgoing president made this statement ahead of the first anniversary of the killing of a top Iranian general in a US air strike approaches. "Our embassy in Baghdad got hit Sunday by several rockets," Trump said Wednesday on Twitter, referring to an attack that caused damage but no deaths. "Guess where they came from: IRAN," he added. "Now we hear chatter of additional attacks against Americans in Iraq," he added, before offering "some friendly health advice to Iran: if one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible. Think it over," he said. In response, the Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javid Zarif tweeted on Thursday: "Putting your own citizens at risk abroad won't divert attention from catastrophic failures at home." He also attached an image of years-old Trump tweets that claimed ex-president Barack Obama would have started a war with Iran to win re-election, as well as a screengrab of a graph that purported to show the severity of the coronavirus pandemic in the US. The US military command that covers the region has also said that the rocket attack "was almost certainly conducted by an Iranian-backed rogue militia group." It said in a statement that while it "caused no US injuries or casualties, the attack did damage buildings in the US embassy compound, and was clearly NOT intended to avoid casualties." "The United States will hold Iran accountable for the deaths of any Americans that result from the work of these Iranian-backed rogue militia groups," it added. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had already pointed the finger at Tehran. Washington has recently reduced its diplomatic staff in the Iraqi capital amid speculations that it could close the mission altogether. Trump ordered the drone attack on January 3, 2020 to kill the powerful Iranian general while he was in Baghdad. The air strike came after Iranian-backed militias had fired rockets at US targets in Iraq, in a scenario echoed by the latest strikes against the US embassy.

Trump warns Iran over rocket strike on embassy in Iraq

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called US President a madman and compared him with the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

"In recent Iranian history we have had to deal with two madmen twice ... (Donald) Trump and Saddam," Rouhani said on Wednesday. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-rouhani-says-he-is-happy-that-lawless-terrorist-trump-is-leaving-office-350162">Also read | Iran's Rouhani says he is happy that 'lawless terrorist' Trump is leaving office</a> 
 
One involved Iran in a military war (1980-88), the other in an economic one, the president said on state television.

"Saddam was executed for his crimes ... Trump's fate is not going to look much better either," Rouhani said.

In the end, however, Iran was victorious in both wars, Rouhani said.

Earlier this month, President Hassan Rouhani had said that Iran was "very happy" over the looming departure from office of US counterpart Donald Trump, who led a campaign of "maximum pressure" against the Islamic republic.

President-elect Joe Biden, who defeated Trump at the ballot box in November, has signalled a willingness to return to diplomacy with Iran after four tense years under the outgoing president.

"Some say you are overexcited by the advent of Mr Biden. No, we are not, but we are very happy to see Trump leave," he said in televised comments at a cabinet meeting.

"Thank God, these are his final days," Rouhani added, calling Trump a "tyrant", "the most unruly, lawless president" and a "terrorist and murderer."

(With inputs from agencies)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called US President a madman and compared him with the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. "In recent Iranian history we have had to deal with two madmen twice .

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called US President a madman and compared him with the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. "In recent Iranian history we have had to deal with two madmen twice ... (Donald) Trump and Saddam," Rouhani said on Wednesday. Also read | Iran's Rouhani says he is happy that 'lawless terrorist' Trump is leaving office One involved Iran in a military war (1980-88), the other in an economic one, the president said on state television. "Saddam was executed for his crimes ... Trump's fate is not going to look much better either," Rouhani said. In the end, however, Iran was victorious in both wars, Rouhani said. Earlier this month, President Hassan Rouhani had said that Iran was "very happy" over the looming departure from office of US counterpart Donald Trump, who led a campaign of "maximum pressure" against the Islamic republic. President-elect Joe Biden, who defeated Trump at the ballot box in November, has signalled a willingness to return to diplomacy with Iran after four tense years under the outgoing president. "Some say you are overexcited by the advent of Mr Biden. No, we are not, but we are very happy to see Trump leave," he said in televised comments at a cabinet meeting. "Thank God, these are his final days," Rouhani added, calling Trump a "tyrant", "the most unruly, lawless president" and a "terrorist and murderer." (With inputs from agencies)

Saddam was executed for his crimes, Trump may meet same fate: Hassan Rouhani

US security agencies have said they had highly credible information indicating that Iranian cyber actors were responsible for creating a website earlier this month featuring death threats aimed at American election officials.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Homeland Security Department's Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency said in a statement that the Enemies of the People website demonstrated "an ongoing Iranian intent to create divisions and mistrust in the United States and undermine public confidence in the US electoral process."

The said website had surfaced after the US election but now appears dormant.

The agencies said they had previously warned that "Iranian cyber actors" likely were keen to influence and interfere with the 2020 US election.

The alleged Iranian-created website had accused US officials involved in election security of "treason."

The site, along with several associated social media accounts, included photographs of Republican and Democratic officials, with rifle crosshairs superimposed on them. It also included officials' purported home addresses.

Those targetted by the website included FBI director Christopher Wray and Christopher Krebs, the former CISA director who was fired by President Donald Trump after publically vouching for 2020 election results showing Joe Biden defeated Trump.

The site also targetted several employees of Dominion Voting Systems, a voting-machine vendor that has been the subject of unsubstantiated conspiracy theories of vote manipulation.

Cybersecurity researchers said one of the pages was hosted in Russia, and some records include accounts registered through Yandex, a Russian email platform.

(with inputs)

US security agencies have said they had highly credible information indicating that Iranian cyber actors were responsible for creating a website earlier this month featuring death threats aimed at American election officials.

US security agencies have said they had highly credible information indicating that Iranian cyber actors were responsible for creating a website earlier this month featuring death threats aimed at American election officials. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Homeland Security Department's Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency said in a statement that the Enemies of the People website demonstrated "an ongoing Iranian intent to create divisions and mistrust in the United States and undermine public confidence in the US electoral process." The said website had surfaced after the US election but now appears dormant. The agencies said they had previously warned that "Iranian cyber actors" likely were keen to influence and interfere with the 2020 US election. The alleged Iranian-created website had accused US officials involved in election security of "treason." The site, along with several associated social media accounts, included photographs of Republican and Democratic officials, with rifle crosshairs superimposed on them. It also included officials' purported home addresses. Those targetted by the website included FBI director Christopher Wray and Christopher Krebs, the former CISA director who was fired by President Donald Trump after publically vouching for 2020 election results showing Joe Biden defeated Trump. The site also targetted several employees of Dominion Voting Systems, a voting-machine vendor that has been the subject of unsubstantiated conspiracy theories of vote manipulation. Cybersecurity researchers said one of the pages was hosted in Russia, and some records include accounts registered through Yandex, a Russian email platform. (with inputs)

US suspects Iran created website threatening American election officials

Iran has begun construction at its underground nuclear facility at Fordo amid tensions with the US over its atomic programme.

According to The Associated Press, Iran has so far not publically acknowledged any new construction at Fordo, whose discovery by the West in 2009 came in an earlier round of brinkmanship before world powers struck the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.

Construction on the Fordo site began in late September. Satellite images obtained from Maxar Technologies by the AP show the construction taking place at a northwest corner of the site, near the holy Shiite city of Qom some 90 kilometers (55 miles) southwest of Tehran.

The construction site sits northwest of Fordo's underground facility, built deep inside a mountain to protect it from potential airstrikes. The site is near other support and research-and-development buildings at Fordo.

Trump in 2018 unilaterally withdrew the US from Iran's nuclear deal, in which Tehran had agreed to limit its uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Trump cited Iran's ballistic missile programme, its regional policies and other issues in withdrawing from the accord, though the deal focused entirely on Tehran's atomic ambitions.

When the US ramped up sanctions, Iran gradually and publically abandoned the deal's limits as a series of escalating incidents pushed the two countries to the brink of war at the beginning of the year.&nbsp;

Since the deal's collapse, Iran has resumed enrichment at Fordo.

Tensions still remain high.

The facility is shielded by the mountains, and is ringed by anti-aircraft guns and other fortifications.

Iran is already building at its Natanz nuclear facility after a mysterious explosion in July there that Tehran described as a sabotage attack. The purpose of the building at Fordo, however, remains unclear.

Iran has begun construction at its underground nuclear facility at Fordo amid tensions with the US over its atomic programme. According to The Associated Press, Iran has so far not publically acknowledged any new construction at Fordo, whose discovery by the West in 2009 came in an earlier round of brinkmanship before world powers struck the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.

Iran has begun construction at its underground nuclear facility at Fordo amid tensions with the US over its atomic programme. According to The Associated Press, Iran has so far not publically acknowledged any new construction at Fordo, whose discovery by the West in 2009 came in an earlier round of brinkmanship before world powers struck the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran. Construction on the Fordo site began in late September. Satellite images obtained from Maxar Technologies by the AP show the construction taking place at a northwest corner of the site, near the holy Shiite city of Qom some 90 kilometers (55 miles) southwest of Tehran. The construction site sits northwest of Fordo's underground facility, built deep inside a mountain to protect it from potential airstrikes. The site is near other support and research-and-development buildings at Fordo. Trump in 2018 unilaterally withdrew the US from Iran's nuclear deal, in which Tehran had agreed to limit its uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Trump cited Iran's ballistic missile programme, its regional policies and other issues in withdrawing from the accord, though the deal focused entirely on Tehran's atomic ambitions. When the US ramped up sanctions, Iran gradually and publically abandoned the deal's limits as a series of escalating incidents pushed the two countries to the brink of war at the beginning of the year. Since the deal's collapse, Iran has resumed enrichment at Fordo. Tensions still remain high. The facility is shielded by the mountains, and is ringed by anti-aircraft guns and other fortifications. Iran is already building at its Natanz nuclear facility after a mysterious explosion in July there that Tehran described as a sabotage attack. The purpose of the building at Fordo, however, remains unclear.

Iran begins construction at underground nuclear facility amid US tensions

Iran has planned to roughly double its oil production in the next year -- as the country anticipates a loosening of US sanctions after Joe Biden assumes power.

Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told lawmakers on Saturday the government aims to pump 4.5 million barrels a day of oil and gas condensate, during the next Iranian calendar year.

Zanganeh also said Iran will increase oil exports to 2.3 million barrels daily, IRNA reported.

Iran’s oil production had earlier almost halved to 1.9 million barrels a day since US President Donald Trump withdrew from a nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic in 2018 and tightened sanctions. And exports, as high as 2.6 million barrels a day three years ago, have dropped to just 133,000.

Biden, who is scheduled to be sworn in as president on January 20, has signalled he wants to bring Iran back into the accord that was brokered when he was vice president under Barack Obama.

Iran has planned to roughly double its oil production in the next year -- as the country anticipates a loosening of US sanctions after Joe Biden assumes power. Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told lawmakers on Saturday the government aims to pump 4.

Iran has planned to roughly double its oil production in the next year -- as the country anticipates a loosening of US sanctions after Joe Biden assumes power. Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told lawmakers on Saturday the government aims to pump 4.5 million barrels a day of oil and gas condensate, during the next Iranian calendar year. Zanganeh also said Iran will increase oil exports to 2.3 million barrels daily, IRNA reported. Iran’s oil production had earlier almost halved to 1.9 million barrels a day since US President Donald Trump withdrew from a nuclear deal with the Islamic Republic in 2018 and tightened sanctions. And exports, as high as 2.6 million barrels a day three years ago, have dropped to just 133,000. Biden, who is scheduled to be sworn in as president on January 20, has signalled he wants to bring Iran back into the accord that was brokered when he was vice president under Barack Obama.

Iran wants to hike oil production next year

President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that Iran was "very happy" over the looming departure from office of US counterpart Donald Trump, who led a campaign of "maximum pressure" against the Islamic republic.

President-elect Joe Biden, who defeated Trump at the ballot box in November, has signalled a willingness to return to diplomacy with Iran after four tense years under the outgoing president.

"Some say you are overexcited by the advent of Mr. Biden. No, we are not, but we are very happy to see Trump leave," he said in televised comments at a cabinet meeting.

"Thank God, these are his final days," Rouhani added, calling Trump a "tyrant", "the most unruly, lawless president" and a "terrorist and murderer."

The electoral college confirmed Biden as the next US president on Monday even as the incumbent continues to refuse to accept defeat.

The formal handover of power will take place on January 20 when Biden is sworn in.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington soared during Trump's presidency as his administration sought to bring Israel and the Gulf Arab states closer together with a hard line against Iran.

In 2018, Trump pulled Washington out of a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran and reimposed punishing unilateral sanctions.

This January, Trump ordered an air strike near Baghdad airport which killed senior Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and drew retaliatory Iranian strikes targeting US troops in Iraq.&nbsp;

Trump "creates obstacles for us purchasing (Covid-19) vaccines, (that is) how much this person is bereft of all ethical and human principles," Rouhani said.

Iran is the Middle Eastern country hardest-hit by the coronavirus pandemic with 52,670 deaths from more than 1.1 million cases, according to official figures.

Vaccines and other humanitarian goods are supposed to be exempt from US sanctions but in practice few if any banks are willing to risk processing Iranian transactions for fear of incurring heavy penalties in the US courts.&nbsp;

Since Biden's victory, Rouhani's government has repeatedly signalled its openness to the incoming US administration, although Iran's supreme leader has cautioned against hopes of an opening with the West.

Rouhani said the outcome of the US election showed the American people's desire for a "law-abiding" president and called on the Biden administration to live up to the expectation.

"If it wants to be on the correct path, it's there, and if it wants the wrong one, it's also there," he said.

President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that Iran was "very happy" over the looming departure from office of US counterpart Donald Trump, who led a campaign of "maximum pressure" against the Islamic republic.

President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that Iran was "very happy" over the looming departure from office of US counterpart Donald Trump, who led a campaign of "maximum pressure" against the Islamic republic. President-elect Joe Biden, who defeated Trump at the ballot box in November, has signalled a willingness to return to diplomacy with Iran after four tense years under the outgoing president. "Some say you are overexcited by the advent of Mr. Biden. No, we are not, but we are very happy to see Trump leave," he said in televised comments at a cabinet meeting. "Thank God, these are his final days," Rouhani added, calling Trump a "tyrant", "the most unruly, lawless president" and a "terrorist and murderer." The electoral college confirmed Biden as the next US president on Monday even as the incumbent continues to refuse to accept defeat. The formal handover of power will take place on January 20 when Biden is sworn in. Tensions between Tehran and Washington soared during Trump's presidency as his administration sought to bring Israel and the Gulf Arab states closer together with a hard line against Iran. In 2018, Trump pulled Washington out of a landmark nuclear deal with Tehran and reimposed punishing unilateral sanctions. This January, Trump ordered an air strike near Baghdad airport which killed senior Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and drew retaliatory Iranian strikes targeting US troops in Iraq. Trump "creates obstacles for us purchasing (Covid-19) vaccines, (that is) how much this person is bereft of all ethical and human principles," Rouhani said. Iran is the Middle Eastern country hardest-hit by the coronavirus pandemic with 52,670 deaths from more than 1.1 million cases, according to official figures. Vaccines and other humanitarian goods are supposed to be exempt from US sanctions but in practice few if any banks are willing to risk processing Iranian transactions for fear of incurring heavy penalties in the US courts. Since Biden's victory, Rouhani's government has repeatedly signalled its openness to the incoming US administration, although Iran's supreme leader has cautioned against hopes of an opening with the West. Rouhani said the outcome of the US election showed the American people's desire for a "law-abiding" president and called on the Biden administration to live up to the expectation. "If it wants to be on the correct path, it's there, and if it wants the wrong one, it's also there," he said.

Iran's Rouhani says he is happy that 'lawless terrorist' Trump is leaving office

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