Tehran Rejects US Overtures, Demands All Sanctions Lifted Before New Talks

The Iranian gov't has rejected an offer from the United States gov't to return to the negotiating table to discuss a new nuclear deal in exchange for Tehran stopping its 20% uranium enrichment (a level well above the 5% outlined in the deal appropriate for civil nuclear power generation).

• Yesterday, Politico reported that the Biden administration had put forward an offer or lifting some sanctions in exchange for a halt to 20% enrichment and stopping work on advanced centrifuges.
• The US, as well as the E3 countries (France, Germany, the UK) and the EU, have been pressing hard to try to get new discussions underway sooner rather than later, with the knowledge that Iran holds its presidential election in June, and once campaigning begins the prospect of talks taking place is minimal.
• In rejecting the US offer, Iranian state TV reports that "A senior Iranian official tells Press TV that Tehran will stop its 20-percent uranium enrichment only if the US lifts ALL its sanctions on Iran first,". Interestingly the statement did not mention halting work on centrifuges, so this could prove an area of concession for Tehran.
• Nevertheless, the chances of the US lifting all sanctions before talks is slim-to-none, making talks being agreed to in the coming weeks a difficult prospect.