Zarif: Iran seeks to reduce regional tensions
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says that if and when a nuclear deal is finalized, Iran will focus on resolving regional issues before thinking about resuming diplomatic relations with the United States.
NEW YORK — Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Iran’s priority after reaching a nuclear agreement with six world powers would be improving tense relations with its regional neighbors to try to counter extremist threats and rising sectarianism, rather than in resuming diplomatic relations with the United States.
He also stressed that Washington’s implementation of a final nuclear deal would be as important to ensuring its success as Iran’s compliance.
The parties “should be worried about the US violating a final Iran nuclear deal, not Iran,” Zarif told an audience at New York University hosted by the New America Foundation on April 29, noting that both the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and President Barack Obama have repeatedly cited Iran’s compliance with the interim Iran nuclear deal reached in 2013.
“That is the point the US should be seriously worried about,” Zarif said. “This is not a game. We expect the other side to be as committed to implementing this deal as Iran is.”
