Rouhani’s Offer of Phased Nuclear Deal Return Rebuked at Home
- President says U.S. partial return to nuclear deal acceptable
- Hardliners seek to quash the idea using state media channels
Hassan Rouhani on March 10.
Photographer: Ebrahim/seydi/Iranian PresidencyThis article is for subscribers only.
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani held out the option of a gradual return to the 2015 nuclear deal for his country and the U.S., appearing to soften previous assertions that the Biden administration must lift all American sanctions at once for progress to be possible.
Tehran was ready to fully recommit to the agreement’s terms once the U.S. did so, Rouhani told a televised cabinet meeting on Wednesday. But it would also consider a phased return by both parties, he said, while again stressing that it was up to Washington to make the initial move.