Threats Do Not Work Against Iran, We Respond to Respect; Zarif
Threats do not work against Iran, says Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif, dismissing possibilities for Iran’s nuclear deal to be renegotiated.
Tehran responds to respect, Zarif told the NBC News in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the 53rd Munich Security Conference.
There's little appetite for opening 'Pandora's box,' he told the American TV channel rejecting any possibility for reopening the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
'It's a multilateral deal and multilateral deals cannot be reopened for negotiations because it would open a Pandora's box,' he said.
'I believe the nuclear deal is going to last,' Iran’s top diplomat said.
About the claims made by the White House over Iran’s missile test, then imposing new sanctions on Iranian companies and individuals, Zarif warned that Iran doesn't 'respond well' to such language and dismissed sanctions as ineffective.
'It would work much better if they decided to use the language of respect, the language of mutual interest,' he said.
Reacting to recent comments made by the US President Donald Trump who has remained to be critical of the 2015 nuclear agreement, Zarif criticized Americans for implementation of the nuclear deal as 'lackluster' and 'slow' but stressed the importance of the deal and it's mechanisms.
'Iran has many options' on the table if the US opted to unilaterally withdraw, Zarif said, adding that he hasn't and won't rule out a meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson if the need arises for discussions about the nuclear deal.
'The possibility has not arisen, no request has been made,' he said.
'If a need arises to deal with the nuclear issue we have, we have mechanisms within the nuclear agreement for meetings of the ministers,' the foreign minister said.
Talking of the Jan 27 visa ban imposed by President Trump on the nationals of seven Muslim countries including Iran, Zarif said 'It shows the hostility is towards all Iranians — even Iranian members of Parliament in Europe, because there are ministers, members of parliament in Europe who were born in Iran and they cannot enter the United States. This is absurd. What is the message that the United States Government is trying to send?'
'Iran is not interested in conflict,' he said.
'I believe at the end of the day reason and rationality will prevail... There is no cause to be served and great cost to be paid,' he said.
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