Mohammad Marandi: West ‘tried to crush Iranian society’
In 2018, the US reimposed economic sanctions on Iran after President Donald Trump withdrew from a deal aimed at curbing the country’s nuclear ambitions.
President Joe Biden has promised to reverse that decision by negotiating a new deal with Iran, but talks being held in Vienna between the parties to the original agreement have stalled.
Prof Mohammad Marandi is an adviser to Iran’s negotiation team in Vienna and says his country has expanded its nuclear programme only to try “to force the Americans and Europeans to abide by their commitments”.
He says the sanctions imposed by the US harmed ordinary Iranian citizens and constituted “crimes against humanity”.
The Iranians were willing to return to the nuclear deal, he said, provided the other side withdrew sanctions.
The full interview was first broadcast on Thursday 22 January 2022.