On Sunday, after several U.S. media outlets called the 2020 election for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani called “for the next U.S. administration to compensate for past mistakes,” and to rejoin the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
In comments first broadcast on Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) and reported by Reuters, Rouhani said, “Trump’s damaging policy has been opposed … by the American people. The next U.S. administration should use the opportunity to make up for past mistakes.”
Iran’s Fars News agency also reported Rouhani on Saturday expressed hope the next U.S. administration would rejoin the nuclear deal. The comments from Rouhani come even as Trump has not conceded the 2020 election and continues to raise legal challenges in various states.
Under Trump, the U.S. withdrew in 2018 from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal. The Trump administration has since moved to reimpose sanctions on Iran.
“Now, an opportunity has come up for the next U.S. administration to compensate for past mistakes and return to the path of complying with international agreements through respect of international norms,” Rouhani said, according to the Associated Press.
Addressing the U.S. return to sanctions against Iran, Rouhani said, “The people of Iran, though their heroic resistance against the imposed economic war, proved that the U.S. maximum pressure policy was doomed to fail.”
Iran “considers constructive engagement with the world as a strategy,” Rouhani added.
On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also tweeted, “The American people have spoken. And the world is watching whether the new leaders will abandon disastrous lawless bullying of outgoing regime—and accept multilateralism, cooperation & respect for law. Deeds matter most. Iran’s record: dignity, interest & responsible diplomacy.”
The American people have spoken.
And the world is watching whether the new leaders will abandon disastrous lawless bullying of outgoing regime—and accept multilateralism, cooperation & respect for law.
Deeds matter most
Iran’s record: dignity, interest & responsible diplomacy.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) November 8, 2020
Iran itself has not been compliant with the JCPOA’s rules on nuclear activity and on Wednesday the United Nation’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reportedly found Iran’s stockpile of uranium is 12 times the limit set in the 2015 nuclear deal.
Reuters reported Biden has pledged to return the U.S. to the JCPOA, a deal the U.S. entered when he served as vice president, if Tehran also returns to compliance. Biden has reportedly said a return to the JCPOA would serve as a “starting point for follow-on negotiations” and from there he would work with allies on strengthening the deal and addressing areas of concern.
Reuters reported Iranian leaders, to this point, have ruled out talks about limiting its nuclear activity or its ballistic missile program.
