Vice Speaker Deplores US Kerry's Remarks on Iran Sanctions
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran's parliament vice-speaker slammed recent comments made by the US Secretary of State John Kerry on the continuation of sanctions regime against the Islamic Republic, and said the remarks have unveiled the insolence of the US statesmen.
“The remarks by US secretary of state who says sanctions regime remained intact and Iran remained committed to the Geneva deal… implies the excessive demands of the US statesmen and their insolent attitude,” Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabi-Fard said in open session of the parliament on Tuesday.
He noted that the remarks at the same time signify the position and logical and wise character of the Iranian nation and government.
“Both of us (Iranian and the US officials) and also the world know that sanctions have not been left intact, but the Iranian nation’s resistance forced you (Americans) to consider the negotiation as a way out of the impasse you have created and come to the negotiation table after accepting a nuclear Iran," he noted.
The Iranian parliamentarian went on to say that the US is unable to maintain sanctions against Iran, adding that the realities on the ground in Europe and Asia prove the fact.
Earlier in a press conference in Vienna on Monday night after a week of intensive nuclear talks, John Kerry said, "The interim agreement wasn’t violated. Iran has held up its end of the bargain, and the sanctions regime has remained intact."
The talks started on November 18, bringing together foreign ministers from the parties in the hope of breaking a deadlock and secure a final agreement before the November 24 self-imposed deadline.
After a whole host of meetings, the last of which held among the foreign ministers and EU’s envoy Catherine Ashton, the parties decided to extend an interim nuclear deal they signed last year (the Joint Plan of Action) into July 1, 2015.