The Iranian delegation to the Vienna talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal called for the lifting of the sanctions imposed on Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, according to informed sources.
The delegation submitted a set of requests during the second round of the talks, in conjunction with the US State Department’s announcement that it had presented a list to lift sanctions that are not "nuclear-related.”
Former State Department Special Advisor on Iran Gabriel Noronha said that lifting sanctions on Zarif was among the delegation’s demands during the second round a week ago.
Noronha told Asharq Al-Awsat that it is a “very difficult” task that will not be simple, given that the sanctions are among those imposed on the office of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
He warned that it will not be simply passed before Congress and the US community.
The US administration is trying to lift some sanctions, said Noronha, stressing that all these sanctions must pass through a “strict legal” process.
He explained that the Ministry of Justice and the Treasury follow certain measures and regulations to lift this type of sanctions, and it may take a long time even if they were removed by executive order.
The former official indicated that the sanctions imposed on the Central Bank of Iran and the National Iranian Tanker Company were imposed within the anti-terrorism law, and it seems that the Biden administration wants to lift these sanctions.
He believed that sanctions imposed on the Iranian oil export sector can be removed, but not those imposed on the energy, shipping, and insurance companies.
The current discussions will succeed because of the Iranian political desire, and the dynamism of the US delegation in this process, according to the official.
On June 24, 2019, the former US administration imposed sanctions on Zarif, and the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) accused the minister of acting directly or indirectly, for or on behalf of the Supreme Leader of Iran.
The Office said Zarif coordinated with the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) to influence elections, and seeking, along with senior officials of the Foreign Ministry to facilitate the release of two IRGC-QF operatives from a foreign country by making payments to foreign judiciary officials.
The sanctions include blocking all property and interests in the property of Zarif that are in the United States or the possession or control of US persons.
“OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all dealings by US persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons. “
It also warned that “persons that engage in certain transactions with the individual designated [Zarif] may themselves be exposed to the designation.”
