In a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Istanbul, Turkey, Zarif argued that Iran does not recognizes nuclear arms as a tool for security, rather Tehran urges for destruction of these weapons by those who stockpile them.
As to the United States’ return to the Iran nuclear deal, the Iranian foreign minister said the US decided to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and then put pressure on other signatories to the agreement to accept its unilateral sanctions against Iran. Tehran witnessed that Turkish companies and banks have been sanctioned by the United States, which is an obvious law-breaking act, he added.
Now, Washington is ought to return to the JCPOA and comply with all its commitments; then, Iran will fully implement its own obligations, Zarif said, noting that this issue has been declared by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
Referring to yesterday remarks made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he warned that wishes and claims of the new US administration on Iran’s return to the JCPOA is irrational and will not come true. Logic says, those who withdrew from the deal, should return to it, the top diplomat argued.
Asked about the US sanctions on Turkey, Zarif emphasized that the Islamic Republic sincerely condemned the sanctions and said that it does not consider them valuable.
It is unfortunate that US administrations are addicted to sanctions, the foreign minister added, cautioning that the US policy would be harmful for both the US itself and the whole world.
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