Iran Submits Conditions Before Continuing Nuclear Negotiations with the US

The impact of the US attack on Iran's Tehran/DOK PHOTO Hossein Zohrevand via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - Iran will not start negotiating to resolve the nuclear issue before the United States meets a number of conditions.

The report was released after news of the issuance of a draft memorandum to end the conflict between Tehran and Washington.

Final negotiations will not begin until half of Iran's funds blocked by the US (24 billion US dollars or around Rp427 trillion) are released, oil sanctions against Iran are suspended, and the maritime blockade is lifted, Mehr reported.

The final agreement will specifically discuss the fate of Iran's enriched materials, enrichment activities, and lifting of sanctions, the news agency added. Negotiations on Iran's nuclear program will only begin after a memorandum of understanding on resolving the conflict is agreed upon, the report said.

After the draft memorandum of understanding is completed, the United States will be asked to fully lift the maritime blockade within 30 days, release blocked Iranian funds, lift sanctions on Iranian oil exports, and present a reconstruction plan for Iran worth at least 300 billion US dollars (about Rp5.33 trillion).

As part of the final agreement, which is separate from a memorandum of understanding to end the conflict, Iran demands the immediate lifting of US sanctions against Tehran and secondary sanctions that affect Iran's cooperation with other countries, Mehr reported.

Previously on February 28, the US and Israel began attacking targets in Iranian territory, killing more than 3,000 people. Then on April 8, Washington and Tehran announced a ceasefire, which is still officially in effect.

At the same time, negotiations are underway between Iran and the US, with both countries trying to finalize the framework of a memorandum of understanding. At the same time, the two sides sometimes launch isolated attacks.