Zarif: some in Iran don’t want sanctions to end

Iran’s foreign minister and top nuclear negotiator Mohammad Javad Zarif has accused unnamed parties in Iran of not wanting to see the international sanctions against the country end. 

Zarif is in Nairobi meeting with Iranian businessmen to expand Iran's economic ties in Africa. At the working breakfast, Zarif said, “At the Foreign Ministry and other levels of government, there is special attention paid and specific mechanisms toward cooperation with Africa.” He said that the administration takes strengthening economic, health and scientific ties with Africa “deeply and seriously.”

However, in a dig at the previous administration of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, he added, “We have to recognize the problems from previous eras and remove obstacles.” Zarif continued, “Unfortunately, some inside the country and some outside are in a group that is opposed to the end of sanctions and see the continuation of sanctions as to their benefit. Unfortunately, in some instances, people have confused the principle of sanctions with the effect of sanctions.”

He said that the issue of sanctions “needs expert discussion and review … so that unrealistic and illegal barriers are removed.” Zarif did not mention any individuals or groups by name.