UN Chief Urges US to Lift Sanctions on Iran

The U.N. secretary-general has called on the United States to lift its sanctions on Iran and for both countries to return to the 2015 nuclear deal. 

"I appeal to the United States to lift or waive its sanctions outlined in the plan, extend the waivers with regard to the trade in oil with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and fully renew waivers for nuclear non-proliferation projects in the framework of the Plan," Antonio Guterres wrote in a report, which the Security Council discussed on Wednesday.  Guterres said he was encouraged by recent diplomatic efforts to bring the two parties back into full implementation of the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — or JCPOA — which has been close to collapsing since former President Donald Trump withdrew the United States in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions.  In response, Tehran resumed some of its nuclear activities, and in July 2019 it breached the deal by exceeding limits on both uranium enrichment and stockpile levels. Tehran has since gone even further, enriching uranium up to 60% and expanding its stockpile beyond JCPOA allowed limits.