US committed to reviving Iran deal

After meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters the Biden administration was committed to returning to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal but would continue close consultation with Israel. Netanyahu opposed the United States’ return and said it retained “the right to defend itself” from Iran’s nuclear threats. On Tuesday, several world powers opened the fifth round of recent diplomatic talks with Iran aimed to bring the United States back into the agreement.

Why does the Biden administration want to return to the deal? Blinken noted Iran began enriching uranium faster after former President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the deal. “I think that only underscores the importance, and indeed urgency, in seeing if we can get Iran back into compliance with the agreement,” Blinken said. Critics of the deal argue Iran will use cash from the deal to fund terrorism. They also say that the pact won’t stop Iran from developing a nuclear arsenal.

Dig Deeper: Read Onize Ohikere’s report in The Sift on Iran growing its nuclear program.