President Biden said the US will not lift sanctions against Iran unless the country stops enriching uranium, continuing a stalemate with the country’s supreme leader, who has demanded that the sanctions be lifted before the country returns to its own state. liabilities under the 2015 nuclear deal.
Norah O’Donnell, anchor and editor of the CBS Evening News, spoke with Mr. Biden in his first network news interview since his inauguration. It will be broadcast in the 4:00 pm preceding the Super Bowl on Sunday.
“Will the US lift sanctions first to get Iran back to the negotiating table?” O’Donnell asked.
“No,” said Mr. Biden.
“They should stop enriching uranium first?” O’Donnell asked.
Mr. Biden nodded affirmatively.
Under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the US and other world powers agreed to lift crippling economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for restrictions on the country’s nuclear program. Former President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the deal in 2018 and re-imposed those sanctions. Mr. Biden has said he intends to rejoin the agreement.
In early January, Iran announced that it had resumed advanced uranium enrichment, in violation of the terms of the 2015 deal. A global nuclear watchdog also told the United Nations last month that Iran has begun manufacturing equipment used to make uranium metal. produce, the group said, which could be used to make the core of a nuclear warhead.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that the US must lift sanctions before Iran honors its obligations under the nuclear accords. In November, Iran’s foreign minister said the country would “automatically” return to its commitments if Mr Biden lifts the sanctions imposed by Mr Trump.
With him confirmation hearing Last month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that if Iran took the first step and again complied with the terms of the deal as currently written, “we would too.”
“But we would use that as a platform to seek a longer and stronger agreement, but also to address these other issues, especially with missiles and other destabilizing activities,” Blinken told senators, adding that “we still have are far away “.
O’Donnell also asked Mr. Biden about another important foreign relationship: the US and China.
“The relationship between the US and China is probably one of the most important in the entire world,” said O’Donnell. “Why didn’t you call Xi Jinping?”
“Well, we haven’t had a chance to talk to him yet,” Mr. Biden replied. There is no reason not to call him. I have probably spent more time with Xi Jinping, I am told, than any world leader, because I had 24, 25 hours of private meetings with him when I was vice president. “I traveled 27,000 miles. With him. I know him pretty well.”
“Is there much to talk about?” O’Donnell asked.
‘A lot to talk about. Lots to talk about, ”Mr. Biden said. And he’s very smart. He is very tough. He doesn’t have – and I don’t mean it as criticism, just reality – he doesn’t have a democratic little D-bone in his body. But he is – the question is, I’ve been telling him all this time that it is necessary have no conflict. But there will be extreme competition. And I’m not going to do it like he knows. And that’s because it also sends out signals. I’m not going to do it like Trump did. We are going to focus on international traffic rules. “
The full interview will air Sunday during the 4:00 PM ET hour leading up to the Super Bowl, only on CBS.
Watch Part 1 of Norah O’Donnell’s interview with President Biden: Biden says it is “unnecessary” for Trump to still receive information briefings
Watch Part 2 of Norah O’Donnell’s interview with President Biden: Biden says son Hunter’s book gave me hope“