No nuclear deal if IRGC not off terror list: Abshenas

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Iran fully rejects the sanctions on the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), even if they were taken off the US list of the terrorist organizations, Iran Diplomatic editor-in-chief Imad Abshenas told Al Mayadeen on Sunday.

"Designating the IRGC as terrorist is rejected, as it is part of the Iranian Armed Forces," Abshenas stressed. 

"There is no agreement without canceling the terrorist designation of the IRGC," he said, adding that Iran has exceeded 60% enrichment of uranium, "and if they do not strike a deal, [Tehran] could be more of a challenge than Washington is expecting."

He also underlined that there was no need for dialogue with the United States if it was unable to fully comply with its obligations and pledges.

US special envoy to Iran Robert Malley had underlined earlier today that his country's sanctions on the IRGC would stay in place regardless of the nuclear deal or the corps' terrorist designation.

"The IRGC will remain subject to sanctions as per US law, and we will still perceive the IRGC as it is, regardless of the agreement," Malley said.

Abshenas also told Al Mayadeen that Iran required guarantees from the United States, highlighting that EU chief negotiator Enrique Mora had proposed that Iran accepts guarantees from Brussels rather than Washington.

Mora had met Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Iran's chief negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, in Tehran earlier today. During his meeting with Bagheri Kani, Mora gave his Iranian counterpart a report on his negotiations with the P4+1, and the two parties will remain in contact for negotiations in the coming days.

The other parties to the Iran nuclear deal, especially the US, must undertake a realistic approach to tackle the issues that are still stuck in the Vienna talks, Amir-Abdollahian said.

He also explained that it was a main priority of Iran's to ensure its economic interests and the lifting of sanctions.

"The United States not making a political decision on the removal of sanctions on Iran is obstructing the parties to the talks from reaching an agreement," he said.

The Americans, Amir-Abdollahian said, agreed to take the first step toward the removal of sanctions. "The lifting of Iranian individuals and the IRGC off the US list of sanctions is one of the most important proposals discussed in Vienna."