US to maintain sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guard even if nucelar deal is reached

euronews.com:

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has promised Washington will work alongside its allies to stop Iran from producing nuclear weapons.

Blinkin made his comments at a press conference with Israel's Foreign Minister Zahead ahead of a special gathering with his Israeli and Gulf Arab counterparts where the Iranian nuclear deal was expected to be top of the agenda.

The Biden administration has been working to renew the 2015 nuclear deal, which placed curbs on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. With support from Israel, the UD withdrew from the deal in 2018, causing it to unravel.

Although Iran has since raced ahead with its nuclear program, Israel and Gulf Arab countries are deeply concerned about restoring the original deal.

Israel fears it does not include enough safeguards to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

"We are both committed, both determined that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon. Russia's aggression against Ukraine is another reminder of why this is so important. An Iran with a nuclear weapon or the capacity to produce one on short notice would become even more aggressive and would believe it could act with a false sense of impunity" said Blinkin at the press conference.

"The United States believes that a return to full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the best way to put Iran's nuclear program back in the box that it was in, but the program has escaped from this box since the United States withdrew from that agreement" he added.

Both Israel and its Gulf allies also believe that relief from economic sanctions will allow Iran to step up its military activities across the region, including support for hostile militant groups.

In response to Blinkin's