Iran Nuclear Deal Not State Department’s ‘Focus Right Now’

The Biden administration is not focused on securing a nuclear deal with Iran amid mass protests that have broken out across the country, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Wednesday.

Price made the comment during a press conference in Washington when asked by a reporter whether the United States was still looking to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal amid mass anti-government demonstrations across the country.

The protests were prompted by the death of a young woman, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, in police custody. She had been detained by Iran’s morality police on Sept. 13 for failing to adhere to Iran’s strict Islamic dress code for women. Amini died three days later while still in police custody.

Her death has sparked outrage across the country, with many calling for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to be removed from power.

“That’s not our focus right now,” Price said, noting that Washington is focusing instead on supporting Iranian protesters.

“I think it is very clear, the Iranians have made it very clear that this is not a deal that they have been prepared to make. The deal certainly does not appear imminent. Iran’s demands are unrealistic, they go well beyond the scope of the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] and nothing we have heard in recent weeks suggests they have changed position.”

‘Remarkable Bravery and Courage’ of Iranian People

“Our focus right now is on the remarkable bravery and courage that the Iranian people are exhibiting through their peaceful demonstrations; through the exercise of their universal rights to freedom of assembly and to freedom of expression,” Price said. “Our focus right now is shining a spotlight on them and what they’re doing and supporting them.”

The United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal under former President Donald Trump, who then imposed tight sanctions on Iran, stating that America would “not be held hostage