U.N. Chief Calls on Biden Admin. to Lift Iran Sanctions

On Wednesday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration to lift or waive all sanctions on Iran as agreed under a 2015 deal to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon.

In a report, the U.N. Security Council, Guterres also urged the United States to “extend the waivers with regard to the trade in oil with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and fully renew waivers for nuclear non-proliferation projects.”

Accordingly, the 15-member council will discuss Guterres’ biannual report on the implementation of a 2015 resolution that enshrines the nuclear deal between Iran, the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China.

This appeal comes amid talks to revive the deal under which Iran accepted curbs on its nuclear program in return for lifting many foreign sanctions against it.

Unfortunately, former U.S. President Donald Trump abandoned the pact in 2018 and reimposed heavy sanctions, which made Tehran start violating some of the nuclear limits in 2019.

“I appeal to the United States to lift or waive its sanctions outlined in the plan,” said Guterres.

“I continue to believe that a full restoration of the Plan remains the best way to ensure that the nuclear program of the Islamic Republic of Iran remains exclusively peaceful,” he asserted.