Zarif also referred to presidential elections in Iran in June, saying if a conservative president is elected, this could further jeopardize the nuclear deal.
In an interview with the Hamshahri newspaper, he said:
- Time is running out for the Americans, both because of the parliament’s ratification and the election atmosphere that will follow the Iranian New Year
- The more America procrastinates, the more it will lose … it will appear that Mr. Biden’s administration doesn’t want to rid itself of Trump’s failed legacy
- We don’t need to return to the negotiating table. It’s America that has to find the ticket to come to the table
Biden’s administration is exploring ways to revive the 2015 nuclear deal that Iran signed with major world powers but that was abandoned in May 2018 by former President Trump, who restored sanctions and added new ones.
Biden has said that if Iranian authorities returned to strict compliance with the pact, US authorities 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 insisted that the U.S. ease sanctions before it resumes compliance, and ruled out negotiations on wider security issues.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed Iran last week in a virtual meeting with his British, French and German counterparts as the group weighed how to revive the deal.
Joe Biden remains silent on Iran as his team works to rejoin nuclear agreement.
Robert Malley, the U.S. new Iran envoy, is forming a team with varying viewpoints on the Iran issue and consulting with Congress.
The U.S National Security Council convened a high-level meeting last week to discuss Tehran's escalating nuclear enrichment and next steps.
