May 17 – Ali Shamkhani, a top political, military and nuclear adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iran would be willing to get rid of all of its uranium and never make nuclear weapons if all economic sanctions on Iran were lifted.
The comment was made during an interview with NBC News on Wednesday, days before a fresh round of talks between the U.S. and Iran about its nuclear program take place.
The U.S. has repeatedly asked Iran to end its nuclear program in the negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the issue in a speech made in Riyadh telling the audience that Iran could have a “wonderful, safe, great country” if its leaders decided to end its quest for nuclear power.
Trump also made a surprise announcement to end all sanctions against Syria, removing more than a decade of crippling economic penalties aimed at targeting Bashar Al-Assad’s now defunct regime.
And Iran and Ethiopia signed an agreement to cooperate on security and intelligence matters, in a move designed to bolster the Islamic Republic’s influence in Africa.
Ethiopia is viewed as a regional power broker which is strategically located in the Horn of Africa.
Iran’s presence in the region has been implemented through its security apparatus and military units deployed in countries including Sudan.
