U.S. President-elect Joe Biden¡¯s pick to lead the State Department has said the U.S. is still a ¡°long way¡± from securing a long-term deal with Tehran that improves the original Iran nuclear agreement, but insisted that the country¡¯s ability to develop weapons of mass destruction be put ¡°back in the box.¡±
Secretary of state nominee Antony Blinken reiterated the incoming administration¡¯s desire to re-enter the 2015 accord that President Donald Trump withdrew from three years ago. But Blinken ¡ª who said the accord helped restrain Iran¡¯s nuclear program ¡ª added that Tehran must return to compliance with the terms of the deal first, and he vowed to work closely with Congress as potential talks progress.
¡°If Iran comes back into compliance we would, too, but we would use that as a platform with our allies and partners who would once again be on the same side with us, to seek a longer and stronger agreement,¡± Blinken said in testimony Tuesday to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. ¡°Having said that, I think we¡¯re a long way from there. We would have to see once the president-elect is in office what steps Iran actually takes and is prepared to take.¡±
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