Zarif in Parliament: We Will Not Negotiate Nuclear Issues Again

On the eve of the announcement of a new U.S. strategy against the Islamic Republic and the potential rejection of Iran's compliance with the JCPOA by Donald Trump, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced in Parliament on Wednesday, October 11, that there would be no further negotiations regarding nuclear activities. Zarif, who served as foreign minister under President Hassan Rouhani, attended a closed session of the Islamic Consultative Assembly to explain and respond to representatives. According to a member of Parliament in a report by Fars News Agency, Zarif stated that Iran 'will never negotiate nuclear issues again. We are determined in this decision.' Zahra Saidi Mobarakeh, another member of Parliament, reported that Zarif also mentioned that 'if the U.S. does not adhere to the negotiations it has had and its commitments, it will lose its credibility.' The White House spokesperson stated on October 10 that Donald Trump would announce the overall strategy of the United States regarding Iran by the end of the week. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in response to a question about when Trump would confirm or deny Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement with six world powers, said that he (the President) would announce this matter by the end of the week. The U.S. President has been a critic of the nuclear agreement with Iran, calling it 'a source of shame' for America. Behrouz Nemati, another member of Parliament present at the closed session, commented on Zarif's statements, saying: 'In response to any of the three scenarios that the U.S. may implement, the Islamic Republic of Iran will take reciprocal actions, one of which could be the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA.' The report by IRIB did not mention the two other 'possible scenarios' in this regard. On the same day, President Hassan Rouhani emphasized in a cabinet meeting that if the U.S. withdraws from the JCPOA, 'the damage of this action will only be for the Americans,' adding: 'We have various paths ahead of us and will choose any path that is in the interest of our system and country.' Iran and six world powers signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in July 2015. According to this agreement, Iran halted parts of its nuclear program in exchange for the suspension of nuclear sanctions against Iran. If the Trump administration does not confirm Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement, the U.S. Congress has 60 days to either keep the nuclear sanctions against Iran suspended or reinstate them.