Iran on sanctions: US actions not words important

Iran said on Monday that it only cares about actions and not words, following remarks by US President Joe Biden that sanctions will not be lifted to bring Iran back to the negotiating table.

When America returns to its commitments, "it can sit at this table again", said Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh at a press briefing.

Iran's supreme leader on Sunday urged the United States to lift all sanctions if it wants Iran to live up to commitments under its nuclear deal with world powers, state TV reported, but Biden says the US won't be making the first move.

Biden rejected the idea in a "CBS Evening News" interview taped Friday and aired Sunday.

He was asked if the US will lift sanctions first in order to get Iran back to the bargaining table.

"No," Biden replied. He was then asked if Iran has to stop enriching uranium first. Biden nodded.

Former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US in 2018 from the atomic deal, which saw Iran agree to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Biden has said he will seek to revive the deal, but insisted that Iran must first reverse its nuclear steps, creating a contest of wills between the nations.