Iran's president says Biden has chance to return to 'international obligations'

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Nov. 8 said the new US administration has a chance to return to its "international obligations," signaling he may be open to a new JCPOA nuclear deal which was broken by the incumbent President Donald Trump.

"Now, a chance has turned up for the future U.S. government to compensate past mistakes and return to the path of commitment to international obligations by respecting global norms," Rouhani said in a weekly cabinet meeting, as cited by state news agency IRNA.

"Iran has been always committed to its obligations as long as all other involved sides comply responsibly," Rouhani said.

This was Iran's first reaction after former vice president Joe Biden defeated President Trump to be the next US president.

The Trump administration ran a "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran including stringent restrictions to push Iran's oil exports to zero and numerous sanctions against Iranian companies, individuals and institutions. The US quit the nuclear deal in 2018.

Foreign Minister Javad Zarif in a tweet on Nov. 8 indicated that the next US moves would determine the dynamic between Tehran and Washington.

"The world is watching whether the new leaders will abandon disastrous lawless bullying of outgoing regime and accept multilateralism, cooperation and respect for law.

"Deeds matter most," the foreign minister said.

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

In response to Trump's decision to leave the JCPOA, Tehran has moved toward resetting its nuclear program back to where it stood before 2015, when the agreement was signed between Tehran and the so-called 5+1 (Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China plus the US).

The deal was designed to give Iran some release over tight US and international sanctions in return for rolling back its disputed nuclear activities.

Iran has repeatedly stated that any breakthrough in diplomatic relations with the US requires Washington to come back to the JCPOA table.