Iranian leaders now say they are willing to return to negotiations with the United States if Washington lifts sanctions that occurred under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in May 2018, reimposing sanctions and enacting new financial penalties against the Islamic Republic.
“We have always believed in talks … if they lift sanctions, end the imposed economic pressure and return to the deal, we are ready to hold talks with America today, right now and anywhere,” said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a speech on Sunday after months of angry and threatening rhetoric against the United States and Israel.
In that time, the Iranian economy has been feeling the pinch of increasing sanctions.
Nevertheless, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo dismissed those demands, saying they were “the same offer that he offered to [Secretary of State] John F. Kerry and [U.S. President] Barack Obama.”
