WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Iran has requested the United States to lift the heavy sanctions currently imposed on Tehran — and he indicated he’s open to discussing the matter.
“Frankly, Iran has been asking if the sanctions could be lifted. The country is under very tough restrictions, which makes things extremely difficult,” Trump said during a dinner meeting with Central Asian leaders.
For years, Western nations, including the United States, have accused Iran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran denies, insisting its nuclear program is solely for peaceful energy purposes.
Iran’s economy has suffered under years of international sanctions, particularly since 2018 when Washington withdrew from the nuclear deal and reinstated strict measures.
Tensions escalated in June after Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign targeting Iran, triggering a 12-day war. The U.S. briefly joined the conflict with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks, leading to the suspension of renewed nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington.
Trump, who returned to office in January, stated that Iran is no longer the “bully of the Middle East” and that its ability to develop nuclear weapons has been destroyed, though the full extent of the damage remains unclear.
In September, the United Nations reimposed sanctions on Tehran through the “snapback” mechanism after Britain, France, and Germany initiated the process. These sanctions restrict all dealings connected to Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.
Meanwhile, Oman — a long-time mediator between Washington and Tehran — has urged both sides to return to the negotiation table in hopes of reviving a deal that limits Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanction relief.
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