Zarif Responds to New US Sanctions: It Poison Relations

In response to the new sanctions imposed by the United States, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the US government on Tuesday of violating the 'spirit of the nuclear agreement' known as the JCPOA and of 'poisoning' the already tense relations between the two countries. Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, reiterated this point, stating that the Islamic Republic is free from any accusations of interference and destabilization in the region. According to CBS News, Zarif also threatened that Tehran would respond appropriately if it confirmed that these sanctions violated the JCPOA. On the same day, the US Treasury Department placed 18 individuals and entities on its sanctions list for supporting the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile activities. The announcement of new sanctions came just a day after the Trump administration acknowledged Iran's compliance with the terms of the JCPOA while asserting that Tehran was not faithful to the spirit of the nuclear agreement. Washington had threatened that more non-nuclear sanctions were on the way. The accusation of not adhering to the 'spirit of the JCPOA' and violating it has been exchanged multiple times between Iran and the US. A few days earlier, Zarif had accused the US of failing to act in accordance with 'the spirit of this agreement.' In contrast, Trump had previously stated that Iran was not acting in accordance with the spirit of the nuclear agreement with six world powers and that the US government would closely examine this issue. On Tuesday, Zarif also stated in an interview with CBS that the new sanctions from the US government would further poison the already tense relations between the two countries. He said: '[The new sanctions] violate the spirit of the agreement. We will examine it to see if there is also a violation of the text of the agreement and then we will act accordingly.' Zarif also responded to the question of whether Iran is willing to renegotiate the JCPOA, saying: 'This is a multilateral agreement that has been approved by the Security Council and it is not a bilateral agreement that can be abandoned or renegotiated.' In the latest explanation from the US government regarding the violation of the 'spirit of the JCPOA,' the US State Department spokesperson emphasized on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic has not properly played its role in helping to establish peace and stability in the Middle East. He stated: 'The United States firmly believes that this country [Iran] has acted contrary to the spirit of the law in connection with a significant part of it; that part of the JCPOA that states Iran is supposed to participate in creating peace and stability in the region and globally, and we believe that some actions that the Iranian government has been involved in have undermined the stated goals regarding regional and international peace and stability.' In response to this statement, on Wednesday, Qasemi claimed that whatever the Islamic Republic has done in the regional and international arena has been based on 'independent, enlightening policies combined with dignity and prudence.' According to Qasemi, as reported by the IRNA news agency, the Islamic Republic of Iran has played no role in 'destabilizing the region.' This comes as most Gulf Arab states accuse Iran of interfering in their internal affairs and supporting groups that, according to them, seek to create tension and instability in the region. Following the imposition of new sanctions against Tehran, the US Treasury Department emphasized that 'the US cannot and will not tolerate provocative and destabilizing behavior from Iran. We will continue to target the Revolutionary Guard and pressure Iran to stop its ballistic missile program and its malign activities in the region.' Tehran is accused of repeatedly testing ballistic missiles that can be used to carry nuclear warheads, despite UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which calls on Iran to refrain from developing ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Resolution 2231 was issued following the Vienna nuclear agreement and aimed to endorse it. In this context, Zarif stated in an interview with CNN: 'The agency has confirmed Iran's compliance with the JCPOA seven times.' The US confirmed Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement; 'non-nuclear sanctions are on the way.' The JCPOA has turned two years old. Zarif stated: 'The US has not respected the spirit of the JCPOA due to its wrong policies.' Iran's response to Washington's sanctions: a number of American individuals and entities will be sanctioned. Statements from the US State Department regarding the confirmation of the 'JCPOA' and Iran's approach in the region.