Iran's Deputy FM: Domestic Decisions Outweigh Int'l Ones
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian deputy foreign minister said the decisions that domestic bodies make on the conclusion of diplomatic talks over the country's nuclear energy program have priority over international decisions such as the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Iran "definitely" attaches more importance to the domestic decisions than UNSC resolutions, Hassan Qashqavi told Tasnim on Sunday.
While having respect for international decisions and norms, Iran will approve of them as long as they fall within the framework of the country's national interests and protect its national sovereignty, he added.
The comments came after the text of a lasting nuclear deal on Tehran's nuclear program was finalized by Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) in Vienna, Austria, on July 14.
A few days later, the 15-memebr United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution endorsing the text of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The document still needs to be ratified by both Iran's Parliament and the US Congress.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Qashqavi said Iran's domestic decisions would not be in contradiction to the UNSC resolution, meaning that the Islamic Republic can stick to its internal mechanisms and frameworks and at the same time respect the international decisions, should they fulfill the country's national interests.
Last week, Iran's foreign minister said the UNSC Resolution 2231 entails no punitive actions, meaning that the UN sanctions on Iran will not be reinstated.
Mohammad Javad Zarif told the Iranian lawmakers that a breach of the resolution will not translate into violation of the JCPOA.