Iranian Strategic Affairs Expert Mehdi Mohammadi: Return To The JCPOA By Biden Is Not Enough; We Need Answers Regarding The Lifting Of Sanctions And The Damages They Incurred On Iran, As Well As The Killing Of Soleimani; The Snapback Mechanism Must Be Cancelled

Iranian strategic affairs expert Mehdi Mohammadi referred in a November 7, 2020 interview on Channel 1 (Iran) to a potential U.S. return to the JCPOA under a Biden presidency, saying that the Iranian public would have to consider the administration's positions on economic sanctions, on the economic damages that Iran has sustained since President Trump withdrew from the JCPOA, on snapback sanctions, and on the "martyrdom" of IRGC Qods Force Commander Qasem Soleimani. He elaborated that the Iranians could not accept renewed negotiation with anyone who considers the killing of Soleimani to be an act of justice.

Mehdi Mohammadi: "[Regarding a Biden presidency,] I think that our public needs to take four factors into consideration. First, the Biden administration's position regarding the sanctions. For them to give us a piece of paper and tell us that they've rejoined the JCPOA would not be enough. We must see what they would do regarding the sanctions.

"Second, since Trump left [the JCPOA] we have sustained [economic] damages to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars. In my opinion, it needs to be clear what would be [done] about these damages.

"Third, as long as snapbacks are still part of this agreement, then I do not think the agreement can be revived. They would violate it again whenever they want. They must clarify what would be [done] about the issue of snapbacks.

"Fourth is the martyrdom of Hajj Qasem Soleimani. At the end of the say, as long as the issue of his martyrdom isn't clarified... It isn't obvious that the Iranian public would accept renewed negotiations with someone who sees his martyrdom as an act of justice."