US will not bow down to Iran’s conditions for dialogue, EU waiting on response

Al-Arabia – The White House said Monday that the United States would not bow down to Iran’s conditions for dialogue on a new nuclear treaty.

US President Joe Biden’s press secretary, Jen Psaki, said that the US had clarified before and it was unyielding in its stance the sanctions would not be lifted before dialogue with Tehran.

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“We will discuss with Congress future steps on Iran,” Psaki told reporters.

But Psaki was quick to play down Monday’s comments by Iran’s supreme leader that it was capable of enriching uranium to 60 percent.

As for the European Union’s offer to host US-Iran talks, Psaki said the EU was still waiting for a response.

“What we’re willing to do is sit at a table and have a diplomatic conversation, because we are looking to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, and we believe diplomacy is the best way to do that,” Psaki said.

Since becoming US president, Joe Biden has said that Iran must first come back into full compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The US would then do the same, Biden has said.

However, on Monday, Iran announced that it would no longer comply with additional protocol with the UN nuclear watchdog.

Iran’s supreme leader also claimed that Iran could reach 60 percent uranium enrichment if it wanted.

In response, State Department Spokesman Ned Price played down Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s comments and urged Iran to return to compliance with the JCPOA.

While Price expressed Washington’s concern over Iran’s decision to stop the additional protocol, he reiterated calls for Iran to talk to the US.

“There is now a proposition on the table,” Price said. “We certainly hope the Iranians will be willing to be there.”