Iran’s foreign minister said on Saturday that US officials tried to discuss resuming nuclear talks last month, but insisted Washington should first give $10 billion of Tehran’s frozen funds as a gesture of goodwill. should be issued as
Iran has rejected direct talks with the United States, and indirect talks on reviving a 2015 nuclear deal aimed at preventing Iran from being able to develop nuclear weapons were halted in June.
The United States used middlemen at the United Nations last month to attempt to make contact, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirbadollahian told state television.
Iran has been unable to get its tens of billions of dollars of assets into foreign banks, mainly from oil and gas exports, because of US sanctions on its banking and energy sectors.
“The Americans tried to contact us in New York through various channels (at the United Nations General Assembly), and I told the moderators that a serious signal was needed if America’s intentions were serious … at least $10 billion by releasing blocked funds,” the minister said.
“They are unwilling to free $10 billion belonging to the Iranian nation so that we can say that Americans have considered the interests of the Iranian nation once in the last several decades,” Amirbadullahian said in a TV interview.
Western powers have urged Iran to return to talks, saying time is running out as Tehran’s nuclear program is moving far beyond the limits set by the deal.
Amirbadollahian reiterated that Iran would “soon” return to the stalled nuclear talks in Vienna, refusing to give a date.
Tehran says its nuclear moves could be reversed if Washington lifts all sanctions. Iranian and Western officials have said several issues remain to be resolved before resuming the deal.
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