The United States is urging world powers party to the nuclear deal with Iran not to give in to Iran's demands by providing new economic incentives to get it to backstep its recent escalation of its atomic program.
Jackie Wolcott, the U.S. ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, told a gathering of the International Atomic Energy Agency Wednesday that Iran's recent moves to enrich uranium beyond the deal's limits amounted to "nuclear extortion."
She said Iran's "misbehavior" should "not be rewarded."
The U.S. pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal unilaterally last year and re-imposed crippling sanctions.
The deal promised Iran sanctions relief in return for curbing its nuclear program.
Wolcott reiterated that Washington believes the deal was ineffective, but remains "open to negotiation without preconditions."
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