Zarif on the Second Round of Sanctions: I Doubt Anything New Will Happen

As the second round of U.S. sanctions against Iran is set to take effect next week, the Iranian Foreign Minister stated that sanctions are "usually more psychological than practical" and expressed doubt that anything new would happen next week. Mohammad Javad Zarif, who traveled to Turkey for a regional meeting, said on Monday, November 7, that the psychological effects of U.S. sanctions have been observed "since the day Mr. Trump withdrew from the JCPOA, and even before that...". Following the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, part of the sanctions that had been lifted under this agreement were reinstated last August, and the second round, targeting oil and banking transactions, is scheduled to be implemented on November 5, corresponding to Aban 14. Other parties to the JCPOA have stated that they will not withdraw from the agreement as long as Iran remains committed to it. The three European countries, Germany, France, and the UK, have also been negotiating with Iranian officials in recent months to find a way to save the nuclear deal. However, the details of the financial and banking mechanisms proposed by Europe to Iran remain unclear, and the timing of their implementation is also uncertain. On Monday, the Iranian Foreign Minister noted that the European mechanisms are likely to be "operational in the coming days" and attributed the delay in these actions to "pressures and sabotage by the Americans at all stages". In recent weeks, the U.S. President and several officials in his administration have emphasized increasing pressure on Iran. For instance, Donald Trump recently stated that all sanctions against Iran would be reinstated on November 5 (Aban 14) and that his administration would do everything possible to counter the "malicious actions" of the Islamic Republic, including its nuclear and missile activities and "support for terrorism". Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton have also spoken about countering Iran's "malicious actions" and the necessity of "maximum pressure" on the Islamic Republic. Nevertheless, Mohammad Javad Zarif stated on Monday that the likelihood of the U.S. achieving economic goals through these sanctions is "very low" and that there is "certainly no possibility" of achieving political goals. Although the U.S. government has stated that it will impose the "harshest sanctions in history" against Iran if the Islamic Republic does not change its behavior, some Iranian officials have downplayed the significance of the upcoming U.S. sanctions. For example, Farhad Dejpasand, the new Iranian Minister of Economy, stated that the sanctions they plan to announce on Aban 13 have already been implemented. According to Fars News Agency, Farhad Dejpasand, in an interview with Iranian state radio, remarked, "I believe that with strong determination, we can minimize the effects of this last step by this sworn enemy" and added, "It may be hard for our people, but it will pass... but we can minimize the impact of these American claims as much as possible". Simultaneously, Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, a cleric residing in Qom, also stated, "God willing, nothing will happen". According to IRNA, Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said on Sunday evening during a meeting with officials from the General Staff of the Armed Forces that sanctions create "disfavor for America in the international arena" and are "damaging for the West and their companies" and added, "Aban 13 will come and go, and no new sanctions will be added to what exists". The statements by Iranian officials come as the Associated Press reported on Monday that some of Donald Trump's biggest supporters in the U.S. Congress are concerned that the second round of sanctions against Iran may not be strict enough.