Zarif: Retaliatory Action Against Saudi Arabia is Playing into Their Hands

Iran's Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, stated during an appearance on the state television program 'Negah Yek' that Tehran has shown 'restraint' against Saudi Arabia, and if it were to take retaliatory action, it would be playing into their hands. He criticized some domestic critics of the nuclear deal, stating, 'People themselves are hopeful.' On the evening of January 17, Zarif referred to a group of opponents of the nuclear agreement in Iran, saying, 'Today, the JCPOA is a reality,' and 'the messages I receive from the people indicate their hope for the future.' He expressed dissatisfaction with some criticisms made in Iran, saying, 'I think it has not been very fair. Some people found every news item from the shadows and headlined it, and today I tell them to stop.' Zarif did not directly mention the opponents of the nuclear agreement and its implementation in Iran, but a group of hardline conservatives, affiliated with the 'Steadfast Front' in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, and some media close to them have repeatedly criticized the negotiations and the nuclear agreement in recent months. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has expressed his trust in Iranian negotiators at times, while also expressing skepticism about the talks, stating that 'it will lead nowhere.' Ultimately, he officially approved the JCPOA in a letter to the President of Iran, setting conditions. Zarif stated that contrary to a group of internal opponents, 'the whole world says that Iran has won.' He emphasized that if 'we fight,' the opportunity to benefit from the agreement will be lost. A portion of Zarif's remarks during the television program on Sunday night focused on Saudi Arabia and the recent tensions between Tehran and Riyadh. The tumultuous relations between the two countries have entered a new crisis following the execution of a prominent Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia and the attacks on its diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad. The attacks on the Saudi embassy and consulate in Iran led Riyadh and a group of its allies to sever relations with Tehran. Zarif stressed that the Iranian government does not intend to fall into what he termed 'the trap of Saudi Arabia's provocations.' He stated, 'Of course, we would be happy to take retaliatory action, but then we would be playing on their field.' He mentioned that Israel and some Saudi officials are worried about the nuclear agreement, and referred to actions such as the drop in oil prices as some of the measures taken by Saudi officials in response to the 'JCPOA.' The head of Iran's diplomacy stated that there is no need to worry about certain events as 'these movements are transient and will pass.' Following the execution of Sheikh Nimr in Saudi Arabia, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Riyadh, while the Supreme Leader also stated, 'The hand of divine vengeance will seize the Saudi officials.' On the other hand, the President of Iran condemned the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions, and Zarif stated in his television interview that these attacks 'are in no way acceptable.' Ayatollah Khamenei did not react to these attacks. In Zarif's remarks, there was no reference to the threatening statement of the Revolutionary Guard or the Supreme Leader's comments regarding Saudi officials. Zarif mentioned the visit of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Iran, aimed at mediating between Tehran and Riyadh, saying, 'We welcomed the request that (the Prime Minister of Pakistan) made.' A part of the Iranian Foreign Minister's television interview addressed the removal of Bank Sepah from the sanctions list and the remaining status of Bank Saderat. He also referred to the release and exchange of prisoners between Iran and the United States. Zarif stated, 'Bank Sepah and Bank Saderat, which were sanctioned for non-nuclear reasons, were able to be removed from the sanctions list during these negotiations.' The United States had sanctioned Bank Sepah due to its connections to the development and enhancement of Iran's ballistic missile capabilities. Some of the sanctions against Iran are not related to its nuclear program and are imposed in cases such as human rights, what Washington considers 'support for terrorism,' and the development of ballistic missile programs. Despite the 'JCPOA,' Washington has emphasized that these sanctions will continue and will be re-imposed as necessary. In response to the recent missile sanctions, Zarif stated, 'In addition to the official protest issued by the Foreign Ministry, I sent five or six protest emails to the relevant parties to seek remedial action.' He did not provide further details on the 'remedial action.' Zarif also referred to the simultaneous release of a group of prisoners in Iran and the U.S., stating, 'This was a humanitarian act.' He noted that in exchange for the release of four Iranian-Americans and one American student, seven Iranians who had been sentenced and seven others who had completed their prison terms but had restrictions were released; and 14 other Iranians who were 'wanted by Interpol... their issues were also resolved.' He did not elaborate on these 14 individuals. Previously, John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, rejected a direct link between the release of Iranian-American citizens and the lifting of sanctions against Iran, stating, 'American citizens [imprisoned in Iran] would have been released even if the sanctions remained in place.' In his television interview, Zarif expressed satisfaction with the current cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In this context, Rouhani reported the 'achievements of the implementation of the JCPOA' in a letter to the Supreme Leader of Iran.