WASHINGTON/DUBAI, June 8 (Reuters) - The United States and Iran on Thursday both denied a report that they were nearing an interim deal under which Tehran would curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.
U.S. and European officials have been searching for ways to curb Tehran's nuclear program since the breakdown of indirect U.S.-Iranian talks on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
That accord, aimed at keeping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, required Tehran to accept restrictions on its nuclear program and more extensive U.N. inspections in exchange for an end to U.N., U.S. and EU sanctions.
One possible solution has been an interim deal under which Iran would accept fewer limits on its nuclear program in return for more modest sanctions relief than under the 2015 pact.
The 2015 deal, which capped Iran's uranium enrichment at 3.67%, was abandoned in 2018 by then-U.S. President Donald Trump, who reimposed U.S. sanctions to choke Iran's oil exports.
Persons:
Iran Rob Malley, Amir Saeid Iravani, Malley, Irvani, Donald Trump, Trevor Hunnicutt, Parisa, Arshad Mohammed, Chris Reese, Lisa Shumaker
Organizations:
White House National Security Council, United Nations, White House, U.S, State Department, Reuters, Iranian, Thomson
Locations:
WASHINGTON, DUBAI, United States, Iran, Tehran, London, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, U.N, Washington, Dubai