Rejecting what he considered a "sanctions-lifting play," in order to reach an agreement on reviving the nuclear deal, the Secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security of

Iran, Ali Shamkhani, stressed that "economic utilization" of his country was a necessary condition.

In a tweet posted today, Shamkhani tweeted in Arabic: "Realistic, influential and verifiable economic utilization by Iran is a necessary condition for reaching an agreement. The play of lifting sanctions cannot be considered a constructive step. "

The United States Administration announced on Friday evening that it had returned exemptions for Iran's civilian nuclear program, after it had been cancelled by former President Donald Trump.

A senior United States official was quoted as saying that such a decision "would be necessary to ensure that Iran complied expeditiously" with its obligations should an agreement be reached in the Vienna negotiations.