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White House Emphasizes No Major Change to Iran Policy

Steve Herman

   The White House is clarifying its position on Iran after President Joe
   Biden gave an interview in which he indicated that'¯the United States
   would not lift sanctions until Tehran stops enriching uranium.

   "Just to be very clear, the president never said that exactly," White
   House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Monday.

   Biden, in a television interview aired Sunday, nodded'¯in
   agreement'¯when'¯CBS anchor Norah O'Donnell'¯asked'¯about'¯lifting
   sanctions'¯and'¯whether Iran must first'¯halt'¯enrichment of'¯uranium
   at a higher level than allowed under the'¯Joint Comprehensive Plan of
   Agreement (JCPOA) from which the United States withdrew under the
   Donald Trump administration.

   "I think if we were announcing a major policy change,'¯we would do it
   in a different way than a slight head nod," Psaki'¯said'¯during
   Monday's White House press briefing when asked about the president's
   position.

   "Overall,'¯his position has remained exactly what it has been,'¯which
   is that if Iran comes into full compliance with its obligations under
   the JCPOA, the United States'¯would'¯do the same, and then use that as
   a platform to build a larger and stronger agreement that also addresses
   other areas of concern," the press secretary'¯said.

   State Department officials are echoing that message and emphasizing
   they are discussing the issue with allies, rather than seeking dialog
   directly with Tehran.

   "When it comes to getting engagement with the Iranians, we're not there
   yet," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters Monday. "We
   want to again make sure that we have our ducks in a row with our
   closest friends, our closest partners and allies," as well as with the
   U.S. Congress.

   Biden has said he wants the'¯United States'¯to rejoin the nuclear
   treaty.

   When asked directly in'¯the'¯CBS News interview whether the U.S. would
   lift sanctions first to get Iran to return to negotiations, Biden
   replied simply, "No."

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