Iranian People Mistrust US Gov’t: FM Zarif
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif emphasized that Iranians do not trust the US government.
“What we can suggest to people, there is a lot of mistrust to go around,” Zarif said in an interview with PBS NewsHour on Friday referring to the atmosphere of the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) in New York after new US sanctions imposed on Iran.
Tehran strongly criticized Washington's "hypocritical" behavior after the US Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on more than 25 Iranian individuals and companies, including shipping firms, oil companies, airlines and six banks.
The US accused the sanctioned businesses and individuals of what it called “supporting terrorism” and trying to help Iran evade previous sanctions.
However, Zarif stressed that the atmosphere can change, saying, “We can change that, and it’s important for all of us to try to — instead of living in the past, to try to write a new history.”
“No serious person in Iran wants to build a nuclear weapon, because people have very serious strategic calculations,” he reiterated.
Asked about the possibility of an extension to the Nov. 24 deadline for the P5+1 nations and Iran to reach a permanent deal on its nuclear program, Zarif said, “I don’t think so. And I’m not prepared at this stage to entertain that idea.”
“I’m not saying that November 24 is a doomsday. I’m saying that we should put all our energy into reaching an agreement by that time,” he added.
Nuclear negotiators representing Iran and the six world powers (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) have started a fresh round of talks on Tehran’s civilian nuclear work in New York.
The negotiations are expected to run until at least September 26 on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly.
In November 2013, Iran and world powers signed an interim deal in Geneva, which took effect on January 20 and expired six months later on July 20.
In July, Tehran and the six countries agreed to extend negotiations until November 24 in the hope of clinching a final deal.