Senior Iran cleric demands removal of banking, oil sanctions
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[February 25, 2022]
DUBAI (Reuters) - A senior Iranian
cleric said on Friday ending Iran’s economic isolation by lifting
banking and oil trade sanctions was Tehran's most important demand in
talks on reviving its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.
Iran on Wednesday urged the West to be "realistic" in the talks, as its
top negotiator returned to Tehran for what might be final consultations
ahead of a possible accord following months of indirect talks with the
United States.
"Our negotiators... do their best to ensure the nation's interests, and
know that the final point is the lifting of all sanctions, especially on
banking and trade," Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said at Friday prayers in
Tehran.
"If these sanctions are not lifted, it is as if there were no talks,"
state media quoted him as saying.
The general content of sermons delivered at Friday prayers is set by the
office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say
on Iran's nuclear policy and all other matters of state.
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![](../images/022522PIXS/news_n59.jpg)
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a
meeting via video conference with people from East Azarbaijan in
Tehran, Iran, February 17, 2022. Office of the Iranian Supreme
Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Feb/25/images/ads/current/graue_sda_042021.png) After 10 months of talks in Vienna,
progress has been made toward the restoration of the pact to curb
Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief, but both
Tehran and Washington have cautioned that still there are some
significant differences to overcome.
A majority of Iran's hardline-led parliament demanded in a letter
last week that the United States should guarantee that they would
not abandon a restored agreement. The assembly has not voted on the
letter.
A senior Iranian official has told Reuters that Iran has shown
flexibility by agreeing to "inherent guarantees" that the U.S.
administration will not quit an agreement, as Washington says it is
impossible for President Joe Biden to provide the legal assurances
Iran has demanded.
Iran insists on the immediate removal of all sanctions imposed under
former U.S. President Donald Trump in a verifiable process,
including those imposed under terrorism or human rights measures.
(Reporting by Dubai newsroom)
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