Putin Eyes US-Iran Nuke Deal At Trump Meet? Lavrov Says ‘Diplomacy On Table’ For Sanction-Hit Tehran

Iran on Feb. 26 condemned a new round of US sanctions as a “clear sign of hostility of American policymakers.” The remarks came after Washington blacklisted more than 30 people and vessels linked to Iran’s oil trade. The US announced the measures on Feb. 24, targeting the head of Iran’s national oil company and others accused of brokering oil sales. It was the second wave of sanctions in less than a month since the US President reinstated his “maximum pressure” policy on Tehran. Tehran further called the measures a “wrongful, unjustified, illegitimate act that violates the human rights of the Iranian people.” Meanwhile, US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said Washington was not interested in negotiating with Tehran anyway, reported Iran International. His remarks came in response to Iran saying that it would not hold talks as long as Washington’s maximum pressure campaign remains in place. “I don’t want to negotiate with Iran either,” Graham told Iran International, when asked about Iranian foreign minister’s comments on the subject. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi ruled out direct negotiations with the US over the country’s disputed nuclear programme as long as the sanctions persisted. n18oc_world n18oc_crux0:00 INTRODUCTION4:00 “DIPLOMACY STILL ON TABLE” TO REVIVE JCPOA?7:33 IRAN WARNS ENEMIES OF “REGRET-INDUCING RESPONSE”