Washington urges Tehran to resume nuclear talks
Openings from US State Department spokesman Ned Price. During his inauguration speech, the new Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi said he wanted to extend 'a hand of friendship" to the countries of the region. Iran accused of an attack on an Israeli oil tanker.
Washington (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The United States has urged Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who took office yesterday, to return to talks on restoring the 2015 nuclear deal. The statement came from State Department spokesman Ned Price: "We urge Iran to return to negotiations soon so that we can finish our work." He added, "We hope that Iran seizes the opportunity now to advance diplomatic solutions."
Among the favorites to replace the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his inauguration speech Raisi reiterated Iran's desire to maintain the country's independence and resist foreign bullying. The newly elected president then promised to pursue "diplomacy," especially with neighboring countries. "I extend a hand of friendship and brotherhood to all countries, especially those in the region," he said.
Under the Trump administration, the United States had unilaterally withdrawn from the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Jcpoa); in early 2020, Washington also killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Qods Force, with an air raid on Baghdad.
Since Joe Biden's arrival in the White House, the US has been trying to reduce tensions in the region. Last week, Iran was accused by the UK and Israel of conducting an attack on the Israeli oil tanker Mercer Street and killing two crew members off the Gulf of Oman. The Israeli government claims to have provided allies with "concrete evidence" of Tehran's responsibility, while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken dreaded the idea of a "collective response."
In recent times Iran had resumed enriching uranium in higher concentrations, arguing that the nuclear program has only peaceful purposes.
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10/07/2008
