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President Biden said the United States will not lift sanctions on Iran unless the country stops enriching uranium, continuing a standoff with the country’s supreme leader, who demanded that sanctions be lifted before the country returns to its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal.
Norah O’Donnell, presenter and editor of “CBS Evening News,” spoke to Mr. Biden in his first network news interview since taking office. It will be broadcast within the hour of 4 p.m. before super bowl on Sunday.
“Will the United States lift the sanctions first in order to bring Iran back to the negotiating table?” O’Donnell asked.
“No,” replied Mr. Biden.
“Do they have to stop enriching uranium first?” O’Donnell asked.
Mr. Biden nodded affirmatively.
As part of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the United States and other world powers agreed to lift crippling economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for limits on the country’s nuclear program. Former President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the deal in 2018 and reimposed those sanctions. Mr Biden said he plans to join the deal.
In early January, Iran announced that it had resumed advanced uranium enrichment, in violation of the terms of the 2015 agreement. A global nuclear watchdog also told the United Nations last month that the Iran had started making equipment used to produce uranium metal, the group said, which can be used to make the core of a nuclear warhead.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that the United States must lift sanctions before Iran fulfills its commitments under nuclear agreements. In November, Iran’s foreign minister said the country would “automatically” revert to its commitments if Mr. Biden lifts sanctions imposed by Mr. Trump.
To his confirmation hearing Last month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said if Iran took the first step and came back into compliance with the terms of the deal as they are now drafted, “we would too.”
“But we would use this as a platform to seek a longer and stronger deal, but also to capture these other issues, especially with missiles and other destabilizing activities,” Blinken told senators, adding that “we are far from there”.
O’Donnell also asked Mr. Biden about another key foreign relationship: the United States and China.
“The US-China relationship is probably one of the most important in the world,” O’Donnell said. “Why didn’t you call Xi Jinping?”
“Well, we haven’t had a chance to speak to him yet,” Biden replied. “There is no reason not to call him. I have probably spent more time with Xi Jinping, I am told, than any world leader, because I have had 24, 25 hours of private meetings with him when I was vice president. I traveled 17,000 miles. with him. I know him pretty well. “
“Is there a lot to say?” O’Donnell asked.
“Lots to say. Lots to say,” Biden said. “And he’s very bright. He’s very tough. He doesn’t have – and I don’t mean that’s a criticism, just the reality – he doesn’t have a democratic little D in his body. is – the question is, I told him all the time, that it takes no conflict. But there will be extreme competition. And I’m not going to do it like he knows. And that’s because it also sends signals. I’m not going to do it like Trump did. We will focus on the international rules of the road. “
The full interview will air Sunday at 4 p.m. ET before the Super Bowl, only on CBS.
Watch Part One of Norah O’Donnell’s Interview with President Biden: Biden says Trump “doesn’t need” further information briefings
Watch Part 2 of Norah O’Donnell’s interview with President Biden: Biden says his son Hunter’s book “gave me hope“
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