US should ‘watch the ball’ amid nuclear talks with Iran

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan isn’t concerned that Iran’s new president will disrupt talks between Tehran and other world powers about possibly reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.

During Appearing on ABC News’ this week on Sunday, Host George Stephanopoulos asked Sullivan if the election of Ibrahim Raisi would affect the chances of a deal. Sullivan responded that no, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, would decide the country’s affairs. “He was the same person before this election as he is after the election, so it ultimately falls to him,” Sullivan added.

Negotiations are underway in Vienna and it is believed that Khamenei approved them because he wants to lift sanctions on Iran. Khamenei is seen as a mentor to the hardline conservative president, the former head of Iran’s judiciary.

Sullivan said the most important thing the United States can do with my president as Iran’s new president is to “keep our eyes on the ball. And that is — our top priority right now is to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. We believe diplomacy is the best way to achieve that, rather than military conflict.” Thus, we will negotiate in a clear and resolute manner with the Iranians to see if we can reach an outcome that puts their nuclear program in a box.”