Days after Western diplomats revealed that the United States pressured some European countries to soften their stance toward Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani confirmed that communication with Washington is ongoing. He added in statements today, Wednesday, that negotiations for the release of Iranian funds are also continuing, according to Iranian television "Al-Alam." Kani also affirmed that Iran's nuclear activity is ongoing.
This comes after two reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency last Monday indicated that Iran continues to enrich uranium to levels approaching those necessary for weapon production, while discussions aimed at improving its cooperation with the UN agency are stalled. Kani's statements followed revelations by informed diplomats that France and Britain are pushing for a new resolution at the upcoming meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors next week, although the United States has not yet supported this move.
The United States, London, and Canada announced late last month (April 2024) a new set of sanctions against Iran following an attack it launched on Israel on April 13. This package came after an initial set of sanctions issued in the same month. At that time, the U.S. State Department announced sanctions on 16 entities and eight individuals, emphasizing that it "will continue to hold Tehran accountable for its transfer of drones and dangerous military equipment to Russia and regional proxies."
