Iran plans to verify the lifting of US sanctions, exporting oil and carrying out international banking transactions, said in an interview published Friday a member of the Iranian delegation in Vienna where discussions on the subject are taking place.
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The signatories of the international Iranian nuclear agreement concluded in 2015 are meeting this week in the Austrian capital to try to save this pact supposed to frame the nuclear program of the Islamic Republic.
The deal has been moribund since the United States unilaterally walked out of it in 2018, restoring an avalanche of economic and financial sanctions against Iran.
In response, Tehran began to break away from its commitments from May 2019, and the pace has accelerated in recent months.
Differences persist
US President Joe Biden has said he is ready to reverse his predecessor Donald Trump's decision, but differences persist.
According to the official Iranian position, announced in February by Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei, Iran will return to its commitments made in 2015 when it has verified that "
all the sanctions
" have been "
truly lifted
".
"
Verification means that, for example, the Islamic Republic can sign its oil contracts, export its oil and receive its income through banking channels or consider making other use of it,
" said Kazem Gharibabadi, the ambassador of Iran to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
"
Regarding the banking sector, Iran must also be able to conduct financial transactions using other financial channels,
" added this member of the Iranian delegation in Vienna, quoted on Friday by Ayatollah Khamenei's website.
According to Mr. Gharibabadi, this is "
the only way to ensure that the sanctions have been lifted in practice
" and not just "
on paper
".
Tehran calls for the lifting of “
all
” sanctions: those reimposed by Mr. Trump, the “
new sanctions
” put in place by his administration and “
sanctions imposed under pretexts unrelated to nuclear power,
” the diplomat said.
The former US president has blacklisted dozens of Iranian companies, blocked Iranian oil exports and virtually all banking exchanges.
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According to Mr. Gharibabadi, Iran is exploring new options during talks in Austria to avoid a repeat of a scenario like in 2018 with the US withdrawal.
"
We are discussing what should be done regarding Iran's technical commitments, and how they should be fulfilled, if a party breaks their word,
" he said.
