Biden Says U.S. Won’t Lift Sanctions Against Iran Until Uranium Enrichment Stops

Topline

President Biden said the U.S. will not lift its sanctions against Iran in order to get the country back to the negotiating table about re-committing to the 2015 nuclear deal. 

Key Facts

Key Background

The Biden administration has been exploring ways to rejoin the international nuclear deal, which in return for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions, stipulates that Iran must abide by limits on its nuclear program. Former President Trump pulled out of the deal in 2018, labeling it a “horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made.” Though Iran—and other countries involved—opted to remain in the deal, a U.S. air strike that killed Iran’s Gen. Qassem Soleimani prompted the country to end its commitment to limiting the enrichment of uranium in January of this year. A recent report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency, a global nuclear watchdog, found that Iran has started manufacturing equipment used to produce uranium metal, which can be used to make the core of a nuclear warhead.

Further Reading

“Biden team exploring how U.S. might rejoin Iran nuclear deal” (The Washington Post)

“Iran pulling out of nuclear deal commitment after U.S. strike that killed Soleimani” (NBC News)