US tells Iran to address its concerns for sanctions relief beyond 2015 nuclear deal

Tehran insists it will not abandon plans to avenge Qassem Suleimani as a condition to end sanctions

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, April 7, 2022. AFP

The US has told Iran that if it wants sanctions relief beyond that of the 2015 nuclear deal, it must first address Washington's concerns beyond the pact.

“We are not negotiating in public but if Iran wants sanctions lifting that goes beyond the JCPOA, they will need to address concerns of ours beyond the JCPOA,” a State Department representative said on Thursday, referring to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The State Department response came after Iran insisted that its Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) be removed from a US terrorism list.

The US insisted this month that the IRGC's elite Quds Force would remain on its designated list of terrorist groups.

Gen Mark Milley, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently told a congressional hearing that the Quds Force, the overseas operations arm of the IRGC, should not be dropped from the terrorist list.

“If they do not want to use these talks to resolve other bilateral issues beyond the JCPOA, then we are confident that we can very quickly reach an understanding on the JCPOA and begin reimplementing the deal,” the State Department representative said.

“Iran needs to make a decision.”

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  Qais Al Khazali, leader of the political party and militia Asaib Ahl Al Haq, speaks on January 1, 2022, almost two years after Iranian military commander Qassem Suleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis were assassinated in a US drone attack in Baghdad. Reuters

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  Hadi Al Amiri, centre, head of Badr Organisation, waves to his supporters during the rally, held in the Iraqi capital. Members and supporters the Popular Mobilisation Forces, a group of Shiite militias in Iraq, attended a rally to commemorate Suleimani and Al Muhandis, who died on January 3, 2020. EPA

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  A PMF follower carries a picture of Suleimani and Al Muhandis. EPA

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  PMF followers at the rally carry pictures featuring Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his predecessor Ayatollah Khomeini, Al Muhandis and Suleimani. EPA

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  A PMF follower carries the organisation’s flag and portraits of Al Muhandis and Suleimani. EPA

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  Members and supporters of the PMF, also known as Hashed Al Shaabi, take part in a demonstration and a symbolic funeral for Suleimani and Al Muhandis. AFP

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  PMF members carry a symbolic coffin for Suleimani during the rally. EPA

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  A PMF follower waves a flag depicting Suleimani and Al Muhandis. EPA

The State Department representative was responding to a top Iranian official who earlier said Iran would not give up its plans to avenge Quds Force commander Maj Gen Qassem Suleimani as a condition to end sanctions.

Iran's position on the matter has been a sticking point in nuclear talks.

IRGC navy commander Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said that “enemies have asked us several times to give up avenging the blood of Qassem Suleimani, for the lifting of some sanctions, but this is a fantasy”, according to the IRGC's Sepah News website.

Suleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq's capital of Baghdad in January 2020.

“Under any return to the JCPOA, the United States would retain and aggressively use our powerful tools to address Iran’s destabilising activities and its support for terrorism and terrorist proxies, and especially to counter the IRGC,” the State Department representative said.

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  Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaking during celebrations marking the annual National Army Day in Tehran. EPA

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  Iranian armed forces personnel march during the ceremony. Wana (West Asia News Agency)

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  Mr Raisi made a televised speech as talks stalled in Vienna over a deal to rein in Iran’s nuclear capabilities, which Tehran says are for energy and medical purposes. Reuters

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  Israel says it will not be bound by any Iran nuclear deal and could eventually take unilateral action against Iranian nuclear sites. Reuters

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  Mr Raisi said Iran watches any move by Israel closely. Tehran supports anti-Israeli extremist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. AFP

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  Iran's military had managed to improve its capabilities, despite years of sanctions imposed on the country over its nuclear programme, Mr Raisi said. Reuters

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  Missiles on display at the military parade. AFP

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  Iran's combat drone the Kaman-22 was on display in Tehran. AFP

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  Iranian fighter jets fly over the parade. AFP

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  Despite Tehran agreeing to reduce its nuclear stockpile in return for sanctions being eased, the 2015 deal has collapsed and Iran has expanded its nuclear work. Reuters

The Quds Force controls the IRGC's militia allies abroad.

The Trump administration put the IRGC on the State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organisations in 2019, the first time Washington formally labelled another nation’s military as a terrorist group.