Zarif: We Have No Restrictions on Negotiating with the US Within the Framework of the JCPOA

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, stated in an interview published on Tuesday that he has not met with the Secretary of State of Donald Trump's administration, but at the same time, "there are no restrictions for Iran in negotiating with the US and the new team of the US State Department within the framework of the implementation of the JCPOA." In the interview with the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) published on Tuesday, March 7, he responded to the question of why Iran did not try to communicate with the new US administration regarding the implementation of the JCPOA after Donald Trump's election, saying, "We never said we would not talk to anyone (the Americans) about implementing the JCPOA." He also explained the remarks of Abbas Araghchi, Deputy Foreign Minister, who stated that dialogue between Tehran and Washington ended with the implementation of the JCPOA: "At the time Mr. Araghchi made this statement, the US government had not yet been formed for us to interact with that government." Zarif referred to what he called "the rhetoric in the Trump administration regarding the JCPOA," stating that "nothing new has happened during Trump's era." The Iranian Foreign Minister noted that these "new rhetorics" could be contrary to the spirit and some provisions of the JCPOA, especially regarding creating a favorable environment for foreign investment in Iran. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, and some other officials from this country have emphasized the need to revise the nuclear agreement (JCPOA) since the change of government in the US and even before that. Previously, Trump had stated during his election campaign that the nuclear deal between the 5+1 group and Iran was "the worst deal ever" and that if he came to power, he would "tear it up." These remarks drew criticism from Iranian officials, who have repeatedly emphasized the binding nature of the JCPOA. Zarif also referred to what he called the successes of the JCPOA, stating that the nuclear agreement significantly undermined the goal of creating a security atmosphere and Iranophobia, and for this reason, hardliners in the US, the Zionist regime, and some regional countries are making every effort to reshape this security atmosphere against Iran, and all the discussions being raised these days are focused on this issue. His reference was to the recent positions of some regional countries, including Saudi Arabia and Israel, against Iran. In recent days, Saudi officials have made severe criticisms of Iran, and Israel has also called for the formation of a united front against Iran. Iranian officials have also directed severe criticisms at these countries in return. According to ISNA, the Iranian Foreign Minister considered the preservation and expansion of the nuclear program and the complete lifting of sanctions in the oil and transportation sectors as other "achievements of the JCPOA" and regarding the criticisms of conservatives about the performance of Hassan Rouhani's government in nuclear negotiations, he said: "Friends who criticize us from within should actually encourage us." He pointed out that Iran has "no restrictions on dialogue and interaction" in implementing the JCPOA, adding: "So far, at my level, there has been no need to communicate with the new US Secretary of State regarding the implementation of the JCPOA, and therefore I have had no contact with him." Zarif discussed the possibility of holding a JCPOA commission meeting between Iran and the 5+1 group, stating: "If necessary, we can request a meeting of foreign ministers... but earlier than that, if needed, we should request that we currently feel that a meeting at the deputy level is sufficient, which will be held at its specified time." In another part of this interview regarding sanctions, he said that "the US government has obligations and must fulfill these obligations according to the JCPOA. All parties know that Iran's choices are not limited; if anything outside what is specified and agreed upon in the implementation of the JCPOA occurs. The mechanism for Iran's reversibility is much easier than the mechanism set for the other parties." Zarif noted: "Iran prefers to continue implementing the JCPOA," but at the same time emphasized that "with the measures of the Supreme Leader and the government, we are in a position where we can easily carry out reversibility." He stated: "We see no reason for the lifting and suspension of the sanctions, which is a US commitment under the JCPOA, not to occur." Meanwhile, Yukiya Amano, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also emphasized on Monday, March 6, that after his trip to Washington, he is assured that the US will have "very good cooperation" with the Agency regarding the nuclear agreement with Iran, the JCPOA. Amano added that he had discussed this with Rex Tillerson, the US Secretary of State. The US Secretary of State had previously stated that Washington would conduct a complete review of this agreement. The Agency, in its latest report published on February 25, stated that Iran has adhered to its commitments and that its uranium reserves are below the ceiling set in the JCPOA.