Rouhani: Iran will only sign nuclear deal if sanctions immediately lifted

Marcy Oster

(JTA) — Iran will only sign a final deal on its nuclear program if sanctions are immediately lifted, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said.

Rouhani made the demand Thursday in a nationally televised speech on the country’s Nuclear Technology Day.

“We will not sign any agreement, unless all economic sanctions are totally lifted on the first day of the implementation of the deal,” Rouhani said.

The framework agreement signed last week says sanctions will only be lifted once international inspectors verify that Iran is in compliance with the final agreement. If Iran is found to be in violation of the agreement, the sanctions would be reinstated.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Thursday in a tweet from his official Twitter account that:  “All #sanctions should be removed just when the deal is reached. If sanctions removal depends on another process then why we started to talk?

June 30 has been set as the deadline for a final agreement between Iran and the six world powers.