Iran says can talk to US if sanctions lifted, Khamenei permits
Iran’s intelligence minister said Tehran and
Washington could hold talks only if the United States ended its sanctions and
Iran’s top authority allowed the talks between the arch foes, state news agency
IRNA reported on Thursday.
“Holding talks with America can be reviewed by Iran
only if (US President Donald) Trump lifts the sanctions and our supreme leaders
gives permission to hold such talks,” said Mahmoud Alavi on late Wednesday.
“Americans
were scared of Iran’s military power that is the reason behind their decision
to abort the decision to attack Iran.”
Trump said last month that he aborted a military
strike to retaliate for Iran’s downing of an unmanned US drone on June 20
because it could have killed 150 people, and signaled he was open to talks with
Tehran.
On Wednesday, President Trump warned Iran that its
threats could “come back to bite” after Tehran vowed to exceed the maximum
uranium enrichment level allowed by the 2015 nuclear deal.
Rouhani said Wednesday’s decision to exceed the
enrichment limit was in response to failure by other parties to the deal to
keep up their promises and provide Iran relief from the US sanctions.
