Zarif: Extension of Sanctions Will Undermine America's Credibility

Iran's Foreign Minister on Saturday, December 3, reacted to the approval of a bill to extend sanctions against the Islamic Republic in the U.S. Senate, stating that "the extension of sanctions will undermine America's credibility internationally." The bill to extend the Iran sanctions law, known as the D'Amato Act, passed the Senate after being approved by only one vote in the House of Representatives, thus re-establishing sanctions against Iran until 2026 after the President's confirmation. In this context, the White House spokesperson said on Friday that Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill extending the "Iran Sanctions Act" for another ten years, but this legislation gives the Secretary of State the authority to remove nuclear sanctions from this set as long as Iran adheres to its commitments under the nuclear deal (JCPOA). The current Iran sanctions law expires on January 1 of this year. This law has been in effect since 1996 during Bill Clinton's presidency, prohibiting investments over $20 million in Iranian industries, especially in the energy sector. According to IRNA news agency, Mohammad Javad Zarif, who traveled to New Delhi to attend an economic meeting, told reporters: "If the extension of sanctions is signed by the U.S. President, despite having no executive effect, it will demonstrate the discrediting of the U.S. government in the eyes of the international community." The Iranian Foreign Minister, speaking upon his arrival in New Delhi, mentioned that he believes "these sanctions have no impact on third countries" and stated: "Since these sanctions do not affect entrepreneurs, we will not engage in these discussions during this trip." On Friday, Eric Schultz, the White House spokesperson, noted that "Barack Obama, [the U.S. President], is expected to approve the congressional bill in this regard" and added that the ten-year extension of the D'Amato Act does not seem to conflict with the Iran nuclear agreement. However, on the same day, Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, stated that if this law is reactivated, it would be a "clear violation of the JCPOA," but Iran has already made necessary predictions regarding this matter. Mr. Salehi did not provide further details about these predictions, but he recently stated that, according to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, in the event of a "violation of the JCPOA," Tehran could reach "a significant enrichment capacity" of uranium within a short period of a year and a half. Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, also stated on Wednesday, November 24, that the recent action by the U.S. House of Representatives to extend the Iran sanctions law constitutes a violation of the nuclear agreement and warned of Tehran's reaction. According to IRIB news agency, Behrouz Namati, spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament's presiding board, said: "Based on one of the clauses of the government's counteraction and proportional action law in the non-implementation of the JCPOA, the country's officials must return to the initial enrichment conditions, and our expectation as an international agreement is that Obama must veto the U.S. Congress's decision regarding the JCPOA and the extension of sanctions." He announced that "to counter these actions, on Sunday [December 4], representatives will present an urgent bill to the Parliament [of Iran]." With Donald Trump's election as the new U.S. President, whose term begins next month, the future of the Iran nuclear agreement with Western powers faces uncertainty, as he has consistently described this agreement as a "bad deal" and called for the cancellation of the JCPOA during his election campaign. In this context, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated: the extension of sanctions by the U.S. is contrary to the JCPOA. Promises from Trump's advisors on Israel affairs: more sanctions against Iran. The new U.S. trade guide regarding Iran is a "green light for banks."