UN chief calls on US to lift sanctions against Iran

The UN Security Council will hold its periodical meeting on Thursday to discuss the secretary-general’s report. Guterres submitted the report to the Security Council last week.

In the report which resembles the previous versions to a large extent, Guterres deemed the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), “the best available option to achieve non-proliferation and regional security.”

The UN chief also warned against further delays and the lack of progress in diplomatic engagements to put the JCPOA back on track, urging the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States to demonstrate more flexibility to reach a compromise on outstanding issues.

“I again call upon the United States to also lift or waive its sanctions as outlined in the Plan and to extend the waivers with regard to the trade in oil with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Guterres said, calling also on Iran to return to full implementation of the JCPOA.

Iran and the US have agreed to resume indirect talks for a return of the US to the JCPOA after EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s visit to Tehran.

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