Zarif: New Sanctions Will Undermine Negotiation Achievements

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, warned on Friday that the imposition of new sanctions against Tehran would jeopardize all the achievements of the nuclear negotiations. On the same day, he met with his American counterpart, John Kerry, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Meanwhile, the White House announced that the chances of a nuclear agreement with Iran are 50-50. According to AFP, Zarif, speaking at a meeting with political and economic leaders in Davos, referred to the nuclear negotiations between Tehran and the world powers, stating, 'We have an agreement that anticipates reaching a comprehensive agreement. If anyone wants to destroy it, I believe the international community should isolate them, whether it is the U.S. Congress or anyone else.' He further added, 'Now is the time for the international community to stand firmly against (the threat of new sanctions) because this issue will destroy all these highly significant achievements.' The U.S. Congress, which is predominantly Republican, is attempting to pass new sanctions against Tehran, but President Barack Obama has warned that such a congressional action would mean a failure of diplomacy and thus he would veto it. Meanwhile, bilateral negotiations between Iran and the U.S. are also continuing in Switzerland; Davos was the venue for the meeting between Mohammad Javad Zarif and John Kerry on Friday evening. Zurich is also hosting the Iranian and American negotiating teams, led by Abbas Araghchi and Wendy Sherman, the deputy foreign ministers of the two countries, who have resumed negotiations along with Helga Schmid, the representative of the European Union. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that the negotiations between Iran and the U.S. lasted about five hours and will continue until Saturday. However, another report from AFP indicates that the Obama administration currently sees equal chances of success and failure in the negotiations. This report reflects the statements made by Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, on Friday, who said that the likelihood of success in these diplomatic negotiations between Iran and the world powers is 50-50. Iran and the 1+5 group, consisting of the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia, and Germany, have until July 1 of the following year to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement.