Pezeshkian: United States demanded we hand over enriched uranium to delay sanctions

(Patria) - The United States was ready to give Iran a three-month delay before reimposing United Nations Security Council sanctions, but demanded in return that all enriched uranium be handed over, said President Masoud Pezeshkian, as reported by TASS.

"The American demand is unacceptable. They want us to give them all our enriched uranium, and in return they will give us three months, which is absolutely unacceptable," Iranian media quoted him as saying.

According to Pezeshkian, Washington could again seek to activate the snapback mechanism in a few months (which involves reimposing UN Security Council sanctions against Iran) and make a new demand.

The Iranian president added that if there is a choice between reimposition and unacceptable demands, the former is preferable.

Earlier, the UN Security Council rejected a draft resolution proposed by Russia and China on extending UN Security Council Resolution 2231, adopted in support of the Iranian nuclear deal, for six months.

According to the UK's Permanent Representative to the UN, Barbara Woodward, UN sanctions against Iran will be reimposed by the end of this week.