TEHRAN // Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and president Hassan Rouhani insisted on Thursday that all sanctions against Tehran must be lifted the day a nuclear deal is signed.
Their comments are likely to complicate efforts to reach a final agreement by the end of June, with the United States responding on Thursday that sanctions would be lifted in stages.
“We will not sign any agreement, unless all economic sanctions are totally lifted on the first day of the implementation of the deal,” said Mr Rouhani, speaking during a ceremony to mark Iran’s nuclear technology day, which celebrates the country’s achievements in the field.
Meanwhile, Mr Khamanei stopped short of giving his endorsement to the framework deal struck last week, saying he will wait until it is finalised.
In what appears to be a bargaining tactic, the country’s top leader said in remarks published to his official website on Thursday that he “is neither for nor against” the deal, which is to be finalised by June 30.
Mr Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, said there “is no binding” agreement yet.
He added in a televised speech that the details of the accord would be decisive, and that the publication of a US fact sheet showing terms that were at variance with the Iranian view of the agreement showed “devilish” American intentions.
“Everything is in the details; it may be that the deceptive other side wants to restrict us in the details,” he said.
Mr Khamenei also demanded that all sanctions be lifted as soon as a final agreement is concluded.
Iran and the six world powers agreed last week on a framework deal, which is meant to curb Iran’s bomb capable technology while giving Tehran quick access to bank accounts, oil markets and financial assets blocked by sanctions.
But the framework deal does not include the immediate lifting of punitive sanctions. Instead, it says the sanctions will be suspended once international monitors verify that Tehran is abiding by limitations spelt out in the agreement.
The deal also specifies that if at any time Iran fails to fulfil its commitments, these sanctions will snap back into place.
“We’re not going to respond to every public statement made by Iranian officials or negotiate in public,” state department spokesman Jeff Rathke said on Thursday.
“Sanctions will be suspended in a phased manner upon verification that Iran has met specific commitments under a finalised joint comprehensive plan of action.”
The framework agreement has received major endorsement by the Iranian establishment, though hardliners have overwhelmingly opposed it and described the deal as a “defeat” for Iran.
The West has long feared that Iran’s nuclear programme could allow it to build an atom bomb. Iran denies the charge and says its programme is for peaceful purposes such as power generation and cancer treatment
Mr Rouhani described the framework deal in Switzerland as evidence that Iran has “not surrendered to a policy of pressure, sanctions and bullying.”
“This is our victory,” said Mr Rouhani.
* Associated Press, Reuters
