Iran-US

US Secretary of State on Friday claimed that Iran was signaling its willingness to return to the negotiating table to get sanctions relief.

Iran PressAmerica: Tensions between Washington and Tehran have risen since 2018 when the outgoing US President Donald Trump abandoned the Iran nuclear deal 2015, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and restored harsh economic sanctions, intended to force Iran on a new round of negotiations and impose a new agreement in favor of the terms indicated by the US.

After about two and a half years, the United States has not achieved any of its goals against Iran.

Related news:

If JCPOA obligations not met, parliament's law will be implemented: Zarif warns

Iran's leaving additional protocol under JCPOA: Speaker

In a virtual address to the IISS Manama Dialogue, a Middle East security summit, Pompeo defended Washington's "maximum pressure" campaign, which opponents have widely criticized as failing to change Tehran's behavior while increasing hardships for Iran's people.

"We know our campaign is working because now the Iranians are desperately signaling their willingness to return to the negotiating table to get sanctions relief," Pompeo said. He did not elaborate on what signals Washington has seen.

President-elect Joe Biden, who is set to take office on Jan. 20, has said he will return the United States to the Obama-era deal if Iran resumes compliance with the agreement.

211