Page 6 - IRANRptFeb21

2.0​ ​Politics
2.1​ ​Iran may only be “matter of weeks” from producing
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on February 1 that Tehran is months away from being able to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon. He added that it could be only “a matter of weeks” if Iran continues to over-ride restraints in the nuclear deal.
In a TV interview, he said the US was willing to return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal—designed to ensure Iran’s nuclear development programme is kept entirely civilian—if Iran does and then work with US allies and partners on a “longer and stronger” agreement encompassing other issues.
Iran has ​said​ it will not return to full compliance with the nuclear deal until the US lifts heavy sanctions on its economy. The US has called on Iran to return to the nuclear deal as a first step that would be reciprocated by Washington rejoining the accord, a move that would necessitate the dropping of the sanctions.
Iran has always denied having any programme aimed at making a nuclear weapon.
Also on February 1, Iranian state TV aired the launch of Iran’s newest satellite-carrying rocket, which it said was able to reach a height of 500 kilometres (310 miles).
The footage of the solid-liquid-fueled rocket showed the launch taking place during daytime in a desert environment. The rocket, named Zuljanah for the horse of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, did not launch a satellite into orbit. The satellite carrier is 25.5 metres (84 feet) long and weighs 52 tonnes.
Iran says its satellite programme, like its nuclear activities, is aimed at scientific research and other civilian applications. The US and other Western countries have long been suspicious of the programme because the same technology can be used to develop long-range missiles.
2.2​ ​Drop sanctions hindering Iran’s coronavirus fight, Iran urges Biden
Iran has called on US President Joe Biden to remove sanctions it says hinder Tehran’s fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Separately, Tehran said it had approved Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine for domestic use and was attempting to buy vaccines from AstraZeneca and other companies.
Though sanctions on Iran brought in by former US. president Donald Trump provide waivers for food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies required by Iran, in reality many foreign banks entirely steer clear of doing business with the Islamic Republic, fearing that they may become entangled in secondary sanctions.
6​ IRAN Country Report February 2021 www.intellinews.com