Zarif: Negotiations on Prisoners Possible with Change in US Attitude

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated in an interview with an American television network that a change in the 'method and behavior' of the United States could make negotiations between Tehran and Washington regarding prisoners more likely. Zarif referred to Iranian-American dual citizens imprisoned in Iran, for whom the US government has repeatedly demanded their release. In the CBS program 'Facing the Nation,' he mentioned that such negotiations, especially from a humanitarian perspective, are possible, but for this to happen, the US must change its attitude. Zarif emphasized that it is important for the [Donald Trump] administration to demonstrate its ability to engage in respectful negotiations. He added that the United States must learn how to interact with other independent nations, especially those whose survival does not depend on America. At least five American citizens are imprisoned in Iran on security-related charges, which the US, their lawyers, and the prisoners themselves have denied. Analysts and observers of Iranian affairs suggest that the Islamic Republic uses the detention of dual citizens as a bargaining tool with the US and other Western countries. Tehran has denied such claims, but similar analyses and speculations about dual citizens persisted after the release of some Iranian-American citizens at the onset of the 'JCPOA.' The US State Department has repeatedly emphasized that the United States demands the release of all American prisoners in Iran, who are 'unjustly' detained. Iran has rejected the claim of 'unfairness' in the issued sentences. One of these prisoners, Baqer Namazi, 81, a former UNICEF employee, is reported to be in poor health, yet Tehran has ignored requests for his release. The US negotiator for reviewing the Iran nuclear agreement stated on the first of Farvardin that the US has requested the release of imprisoned Iranian-American citizens in bilateral talks with Iran in Vienna, beyond the issue related to the nuclear agreement. In part of his interview with CBS, Zarif also discussed the nuclear agreement, indicating that the option of resuming Iran's nuclear activities 'more rapidly' is not off the table if the US withdraws from the 'Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action' (JCPOA). Donald Trump, the US President, has referred to the nuclear deal with Iran as 'the worst deal' and set a deadline to 'fix the flaws of the JCPOA' that ends on May 12. Trump has outlined four conditions for continued US participation in the JCPOA, which include 'immediate access' for international inspectors to all sites and facilities in Iran, making restrictions on Iran's nuclear program permanent, ensuring that Iran does not approach nuclear weapons, and limiting Iran's long-range missile program; as Trump stated, the long-range missile program and Iran's nuclear weapons program are 'inseparable.' Zarif's interview with CBS is set to be fully broadcast on the second of Ordibehesht.