Iran Sets Preconditions Before Starting Nuclear Negotiations with the US

Tehran (ANTARA) - Iran will not begin negotiations to resolve the nuclear issue until the United States meets several preconditions, Mehr news agency reported on Friday. The report follows news of the drafting of a memorandum to end the conflict between Tehran and Washington. Final negotiations will not commence until half of Iran’s blocked funds in the US ($24 billion) are released, oil sanctions against Iran are suspended, and the maritime blockade is lifted, Mehr reported. Once the draft memorandum of understanding is finalised, the United States will be asked to fully lift the maritime blockade within 30 days, release Iran’s blocked funds, lift sanctions on Iranian oil exports, and present a reconstruction plan for Iran worth at least $300 billion. As part of a final agreement, separate from the memorandum of understanding to end the conflict, Iran demands the lifting of direct US sanctions against Tehran and secondary sanctions affecting Iran’s cooperation with other countries, Mehr reported. Meanwhile, negotiations are ongoing between Iran and the US, with both sides working to finalise the framework of the memorandum of understanding, even as they occasionally launch isolated attacks against each other.