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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi remarked that Iranian oil exports are back to pre-sanctions levels despite  Western nations pushing to cripple them. 

“The enemies have formally announced that the (policy of) maximum pressure (on Iran) has ended in failure, as we saw that our exports to the region have increased and our production centers have been encouraged,” he added.

This statement comes just a day after the US Treasury announced sanctions on 13 Iranian oil companies with alleged ties to the facilitation of the sale of Iranian petrochemicals and petroleum products.

Raisi highlighted the government's efforts and success in neutralizing the sanctions, noting that Tehran boosted exports and production, in addition to organizing plans to complete the unfinished projects.

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“In spite of the sanctions, we can make great strides for the country’s progress. We are aware that the enemy is opposed to us making headway, our production booming, our economy being resistant, and our science and knowledge enhancing,” he noted

Pointing to the revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Raisi stressed that Iran won't be holding negotiations just for the sake of negotiations. He slammed Western actors for violating their commitments.

Washington must make up its mind

Raisi asserted that the International Atomic Energy Agency has acknowledged 15 times that Iran's nuclear activities are not out of the scope of peaceful use, and yet the IAEA continues to raise doubts. 

Addressing that the EU described Iran's proposals in the Vienna talks as logical, Raisi said that Washington must make up its mind. 

Yesterday, Friday, Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, said that the next round of meetings between the IAEA and Iran is expected to take place in Tehran before the end of November.

On Thursday, the IAEA passed a resolution urging Iran to comply with the probe involving the alleged find of uranium traces at three undeclared sites. 

This is the second time that the nuclear watchdog is carrying out a motion of this kind against Iran - the last one which took place in June this year involved a motion of censure against Tehran’s alleged obstruction of inspectors.

The resolution which states it is "essential and urgent" for Iran to "act to fulfill its legal obligations," and was brought by the US, the UK, France, and Germany, was voted by 26 countries in favor, two against, five abstained, and two countries were absent.

The two countries who voted against the resolution are China and Russia.

The IAEA's lack of impartiality has made it more difficult for Iran to reach its nuclear deal with the US. The agency has accused Iran several times of lying about its nuclear activities on the basis of not having provided sufficient information about three "undeclared nuclear sites."