US Claims Hypocritical Without Lifting Sanctions

The United States’ claim of favoring diplomacy is nothing but “hypocritical and unacceptable rhetoric”, as long as it has not lifted the sanctions on Tehran, the Iranian government’s spokesman said.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Ali Rabiei added that this is why Iran has rejected an invitation by the European Union to a meeting with member states of the 2015 nuclear deal, in which the US was invited as a guest, ISNA reported.  
“Before any negotiations, we need some assurance about the US sincerity and seriousness in its intention to return to its commitments under the JPCOA,” he said, using the abbreviation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the formal name of the nuclear deal from which Washington pulled out in 2018. 
He said the only yardstick for Iran is the US practical measures. 
According to the spokesman, Iran believes in diplomacy as the only way out of the impasse created by the US, but initiating an effective diplomatic process needs at least a minimum level of goodwill, which the US has so far refused to show.
Rabiei also reminded that the administration of US President Joe Biden cannot follow the policies of its predecessor and expect different results.