Iran rejects European countries offer of $15bn

Iran has rejected an offer of a $15 billion European loan in return for the country’s commitment to the nuclear deal, the National Iranian Television reported on Wednesday. The report quoted unidentified sources saying: “Iran refuses to receive a 15-billion dollar loan, rather as a price for its oil.”

The loan was part of a European effort led by France to persuade Iran to commit to the nuclear deal fully.

However, the Iranian rejection of the loan coincided with President Hassan Rouhani’s announcement that Iran “will take the third step toward reducing its nuclear obligations soon,” on Wednesday morning.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Tehran would “stick to full compliance with the nuclear deal only if it was able to sell its oil and enjoy the proceeds of those sales without hindrance.”