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Iranian source rejects removal of sanctions in segments

This week's talks in Vienna have brought officials closer to resolving the nuclear deal crisis, though Iran still insists on full sanctions removal. 

In this handout provided by the EU Delegation in Vienna, Representatives of the European Union (L) and Iran (R) attend the Iran nuclear talks at the Grand Hotel on April 06, 2021 in Vienna, Austria.
Representatives of the European Union (L) and Iran (R) attend the Iran nuclear talks at the Grand Hotel on April 6, 2021 in Vienna. — EU delegation in Vienna via Getty Images

Despite reports of progress that came this week out of Iran nuclear deal talks in Vienna, Iran’s Press TV says a source tells it that Tehran is rejecting "segmentation” of US sanctions. This appears to mean that Iran, before it moves to again comply with the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), wants a complete removal of the sanctions President Donald Trump reapplied when he exited the deal in 2018.

Press TV issued its report April 7, after top officials from Iran and the remaining countries in the 2015 nuclear deal (Russia, China, Germany, France and Britain) gathered in Austria this week to discuss US reentry into the JCPOA.

Many news organizations reported that members of the Joint Commission agreed to form two working groups to try to find a way to remove US sanctions and see a return by Iran to full compliance. President Joe Biden has expressed a desire for the United States to reenter the JCPOA once Iran rolls backs its violations of the deal's terms.

The source told Press TV that Iran rejected the idea that there would a be short-term verification process to determine that sanctions have been removed. The source appeared to be saying that Iran would reject any “step for step” process in which Iran takes steps into full compliance and the United States reciprocates by removing groups of sanctions.

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