Zarif Denies Meeting between Biden's Team, Iran's Representative to UN

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif denied that there had been a meeting between the US President-elect Joe Biden's team and Iran's representative to the United Nations, Majid Takht-Ravanchi.

Iranian Government Spokesman Ali Rabiyee dismissed media claims that US President-elect Joe Biden’s team has reached out to Tehran. He stressed that negotiations are meaningless without Washington’s full implementation of nuclear deal undertakings.

"We have not received any message from Mr. Biden's team," Rabiyee told reporters in Tehran on Tuesday.

He added that negotiations are pointless until Iran will be assured that the US fully fulfills its legal responsibilities while returning to its nuclear deal undertakings unconditionally.

“Our focus now is on the full revival of the nuclear deal by all parties to the agreement and we expect the new US administration to focus on gaining Iran's trust through the full and immediate implementation of all its undertakings. The US government should first implement its undertakings under the nuclear deal and the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, and this is the only way forward for the new US administration,” Rabiyee said.

“This reality will not change that the policy of maximum pressure on the Iranian people has turned into a lasting scandal in history; today, the US accountability and respect for international laws and norms is a global demand. The new US administration should not make up for the legacy and, in fact, the stigma left by the previous administration selectively,” he added.

In relevant remarks on Monday, Iranian Envoy and Permanent Representative to the UN Majid Takht Ravanchi underlined that if Biden decides to return to the nuclear deal, Washington should comply with all its undertakings in exact accordance with the internationally-endorsed agreement.

“We make decision and take reciprocal action considering Biden's moves vis a vis the nuclear deal. We have repeatedly demanded the US to return to the nuclear deal and this return should be complete and without preconditions, that is to say, no issue related or unrelated to the nuclear deal should be put forward for discussion,” Takht Ravanchi said.

“It should only be clear that the US international undertakings cannot be half-fulfilled. If they claim to return to the nuclear deal, this return should be accompanied by the full implementation of their undertakings with no hesitation or controversy,” he added.