Zarif: If the Nuclear Agreement is Abrogated, No One Will Trust the U.S.

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, warned that if the United States withdraws from the Vienna nuclear agreement, no one will trust Washington to engage in long-term negotiations. Mr. Zarif, who was Iran's chief negotiator in the nuclear talks with world powers, criticized Donald Trump's administration's policies regarding the nuclear agreement and the possibility of the U.S. exiting the JCPOA, emphasizing that the JCPOA 'was not a bilateral treaty between Iran and the United States.' The Iranian Foreign Minister added, 'Therefore, he [Donald Trump] is doing whatever political maneuvering for domestic consumption, and it is related to himself. You know that the United States is a permanent member of the Security Council, and if it does not support a resolution that it has both voted for and initiated, then the credibility of the institution, which is very important to the United States, will be undermined.' Mr. Zarif continued, 'No one else will trust any of the U.S. governments to engage in long-term negotiations because U.S. commitments do not last, and the other party will always remember this U.S. presidential term.' Donald Trump announced on Friday that he could not certify Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement, leaving Congress to decide on imposing new sanctions against Iran. Mr. Trump claims that Iran's actions are contrary to the spirit of the nuclear agreement and that the country continues to fuel instability in the region. However, Washington has emphasized that it will remain in the JCPOA for now, although it seeks an appropriate response to Tehran's behavior. Nevertheless, Mohammad Javad Zarif, recalling the agreements from which the U.S. has withdrawn during Trump's presidency, goes beyond the nuclear agreement and raises the issue of global trust in the U.S. He stated, 'This government [the U.S.] is withdrawing from everything to the point that its doctrine has been named the doctrine of withdrawal. It has exited NAFTA, exited the Pacific trade agreement, exited UNESCO. It is withdrawing from everything. Therefore, no one can trust the United States anymore.' Mr. Zarif concluded this interview by emphasizing that Iran does not intend to be the first country to exit the Vienna nuclear agreement. Previously, leaders from Germany, France, and Britain had also warned against the abrogation of the nuclear agreement. However, they emphasized that they have concerns regarding Iran's missile program and its behavior in the region. In this context, Trump's National Security Advisor stated: 'Iran is not a trustworthy government.' Tillerson rejected the negative impact of the U.S. decision on the JCPOA on the process of dealing with North Korea. Haley stated that the U.S. will remain in the JCPOA for now but seeks a proportional response to Iran's actions. Salehi warned that if the JCPOA is abrogated, they will halt the Additional Protocol. Zarif stated that the only authority to address the JCPOA is the International Atomic Energy Agency. The U.S. announced a new strategy regarding Iran, imposing sanctions on the IRGC and not certifying compliance with the JCPOA.