Iran announced Wednesday that Washington has agreed to remove all sanctions on Iran's oil and shipping, and to take some senior Iranian political figures off a blacklist to revive Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal, according to international media outlets.
"An agreement has been reached to remove all insurance, oil and shipping sanctions that were imposed by former US President Donald Trump," the Presidential Chief of Staff, Mahmoud Vaezi, was quoted as saying by international media.
About 1,040 Trump-era sanctions will be lifted under the agreement. It was also agreed to lift some sanctions on individuals and members of the supreme leader's inner circle, he said.
On Monday, Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raeisi sent a strongly-worded message to Washington, calling on it to return to full compliance with 2015 nuclear deal commitments and lift the sanctions.
Noting that he would not meet US President Biden, he said Iran's negotiating team, currently engaged in negotiations with world powers in Vienna to revive the nuclear deal, would follow up on the talks.
He added that the removal of sanctions along with the US’s return to its commitments under the deal would be followed by verification by Iran.
In 2015, world powers, including the US, China, Russia, France, Germany, and the UK agreed to lift economic sanctions on Iran in return for Tehran agreeing to limit its nuclear activity to civilian purposes.
But in 2018 US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal and stepped up pressure on Tehran by re-imposing broader sanctions.
Despite their criticism of Iran's nuclear program and its activities in the region, Germany, France, and the UK have repeatedly underlined their commitment to the 2015 deal and urged Tehran to return to full compliance.
By Busranur Begcecanli
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr