Zarif: Nikki Haley's Remarks Indicate Her 'Ignorance' of the JCPOA Text

Iran's Foreign Minister has described Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, remarks about the necessity for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to access 'unregistered' nuclear sites in Iran as 'incorrect', 'wishful thinking', and 'indicative of her ignorance' of the text of the Vienna nuclear agreement. Mohammad Javad Zarif, in an interview with the Iranian government website published on Saturday, September 2, stated that the Vienna nuclear agreement is 'a complete framework that specifies solutions in all areas'. According to Zarif, the parties in this agreement have reached 'a middle ground' of their demands and 'no agreement satisfies all parties' requests'. He emphasized that the Vienna nuclear agreement has established frameworks for verifying Iran's nuclear program, and the U.S. representative at the UN cannot present her 'demands' and 'wishful thinking' as criticisms of the JCPOA. Nikki Haley, on Wednesday, August 23, during her visit to Vienna, met with Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the IAEA, and emphasized the need for precise verification of Iran's nuclear programs and the implementation of its commitments under the nuclear agreement. The U.S. Ambassador also stated that inspectors should be able to access any location in Iran suspected of conducting activities related to the JCPOA. Following her discussions with agency officials, she remarked, 'There are several unregistered sites that have not been inspected, and this is a problem.' On the same day, Iran's Foreign Minister had assessed this visit in an open letter to Yukiya Amano and Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, as a 'violation of the provisions' of the JCPOA. Subsequently, the permanent mission of the Islamic Republic to the IAEA also deemed this visit 'in conflict with the JCPOA and the role of the agency'. The Associated Press reported on July 27, citing senior U.S. officials, that President Donald Trump is seeking discussions with European countries to establish a new agreement that could prevent the development of Iran's nuclear program even after the expiration of the JCPOA. According to this report, the U.S. President is also trying to conduct inspections of Iran's 'suspicious' military sites. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson described this matter as an 'unfulfilled dream' and 'a joke', while Ali Akbar Velayati, an international affairs advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, called these reports 'nonsense and exaggeration'. The IAEA announced on Thursday, September 1, that Iran has adhered to the limitations set forth in the nuclear agreement between Tehran and the six world powers. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the U.S. government is pressuring the IAEA to inspect Iran's military sites to investigate violations of the nuclear agreement with the international community; however, according to agency officials, such inspections must first be deemed necessary, and currently, there is no necessity for this action. The IAEA Board of Governors closed the file on the possible military dimensions of the nuclear case known as PMD in a special session on December 16, 2015, following the Director General's report. Critics of the JCPOA today argue that the PMD file was not thoroughly examined and closed, leaving questions that the Trump administration should pursue. The Trump administration also emphasizes that Iran's missile program and the activities of the Quds Force violate the spirit of the nuclear agreement, as under this agreement, Iran is supposed to participate in creating peace and stability in the region and globally. Meanwhile, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN stated on Thursday, September 1, that Iran has revealed its true face by reviving and improving its relations with the militant group Hamas, and the international community must hold Tehran accountable in this regard. Regarding 'cooperation' with Saudi Arabia, Zarif expressed happiness over the return of Iranian pilgrims to the Hajj ceremony and discussed the impact of this on relations with Saudi Arabia, stating that the Islamic Republic's policy towards neighbors is 'relationships based on mutual respect'. He emphasized that regional security must be ensured 'through communications and coordination' among regional countries and that 'foreigners cannot create power and security for the region'. The Iranian Foreign Minister stated that 'whenever our neighbors are ready, they will see the Islamic Republic as a partner and a powerful neighbor eager for interaction and cooperation'. Zarif's remarks coincide with the participation of 86,500 Iranian pilgrims in this year's Hajj. Iranian pilgrims last participated in the Hajj in 2015. At that time, due to overcrowding during the passage of pilgrims through the Mina area, more than two thousand people lost their lives, over 460 of whom were Iranian. Zarif announced on Wednesday, September 1, that Iranian and Saudi diplomatic delegations would visit their embassies in both countries after the Hajj ceremonies. Meanwhile, Hossein Jaberi Ansari, Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, reported on June 18 that there was a preliminary agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to visit their embassies. Diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh have been severed since January 2016 following the execution of a Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia and the violent protests against Saudi diplomatic sites in Tehran and Mashhad. On Tuesday, August 1, Iranian media reported that the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia embraced and had a brief conversation during a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul. According to reports, Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister, approached Mohammad Javad Zarif and 'after embracing him', they conversed. Conflicts in Syria and Yemen have been among the most important reasons for the deterioration of relations between the two countries in recent years. Iran supports the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, while Saudi Arabia is one of the main supporters of a group of rebels in that country. In Yemen, the situation is reversed, as the Arab coalition led by Riyadh conducts airstrikes against Houthi rebels to restore power to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, while Iranian officials support the Houthi rebels.