Iran Pursuing Lifting Sanctions: Raisi

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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi underscored Sunday the Islamic Republic was working hard to lift sanctions. "Lifting sanctions is being pursued with vigour," he asserted.

In a televised interview, President Raisi said his government does not tie the country's budget and economy to the issue of nuclear talks.

The Iranian government is working toward the lifting of US sanctions while making every effort to neutralize their impact through establishing a special task force with that purpose.

"Iran presented two drafts on the nuclear program and sanctions in accordance with the nuclear deal," Raisi noted.

The Iranian president listed inflation, high prices, and tax evasion as among the top challenges his government is facing. However, he underscored that "the government is doing everything to achieve economic stability and a predictable market."

On the cyberattacks that targeted the Iranian fuel distribution network in late October, Raisi said the enemy sought to stir up discord through them, "but that plan was toppled through the support and cooperation between the citizens and the government."

The president highlighted that he was more positive than ever about his country's future.

The interview was held to mark Raisi's first 100 days in power, and, responding to a question about his government's performance throughout these 100 days, he said the people should be the ones to rate his government's performance, "for the people's judgment is fair and equitable in this regard."

"The people are well-aware of the situation in the country when I took the reins of government," he noted.

The seventh round of nuclear talks ended Friday after five days in Vienna and a five-month hiatus, and the next round will kick off in Austria next week.

The Vienna talks are taking place to bring back to life the 2015 JCPOA, which had been broken by the United States when it withdrew under former President Donald Trump in 2018.