Acting Deputy Spokesperson of the US State Department, Jeff Rathke, commenting on the statement by the Supreme Leader of Iran, who demanded the simultaneous cancellation of the sanctions against his country, said that sanctions should be lifted gradually and only after Tehran fulfils the terms of the contract concerning the nuclear sphere.
"Under the agreed-upon parameters, sanctions will be suspended in a phased manner upon verification that Iran has met specific commitments," he said. According to Rathke, the key agreements between the 5+1 Group plus Iran remain in force."The suspension will be phased upon verification of Iran’s completion of specific commitments," the diplomat said.
However, he declined to comment on the statements by the leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and President Hassan Rouhani. "We do not negotiate in public," Rathke said.
