WH Walks Back Biden Comment On Iran Sanctions: "A Slight Head Nod" Is Not A Policy Announcement

White House press secretary Jen Psaki clarified at Monday's press briefing the Biden administration's current position on resuming negotiations with Iran whether or not they stop enriching Uranium that could be used for building nuclear weapons.

During an interview with CBS News that aired on Sunday, Biden appeared to say he would not resume negotiations as long as Iran continued the enrichment process.

Psaki argued that Biden did not actually say that, but only nodded his head when the interviewer asked him in the form of a question.


Iran replied to Biden's nod on Sunday:

The post-U.S. era has started.

— Khamenei.ir 🇮🇷 (@khamenei_ir) February 7, 2021

We set the condition and the condition will not be retreated from. https://t.co/f9J1rAbQwG

— Khamenei.ir 🇮🇷 (@khamenei_ir) February 7, 2021

"Since then, the [Iranian] Supreme Leader has said the U.S. needs to act first," CBS's Weijia Jiang told Psaki. "Is this a non-negotiable point for President Biden, and if so, how do you get out of this stalemate?"

"Just to be clear, the president never said that, exactly," the White House press secretary replied. "It was stated by the interviewer, Norah O'Donnell, and he didn't respond to the question."

"Well, he nodded," Jiang said.

"I think if we were announcing a major policy change, we would do it in a different way than a slight head nod," Psaki replied, saying that their position has not changed.