Zarif Says Talks with Kerry Centered on JCPOA
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s foreign minister said his conversations with US secretary of state in the past days have revolved around the final nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers, though a few words were also exchanged on Saudi Arabia’s recent “short-sighted” measures.
“My conversations with Mr. (John) Kerry in the past days have focused on carrying out the JCPOA and the procedures for reaching the implementation day,” Mohammad Javad Zarif said Wednesday, at a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart in Tehran.
The top Iranian diplomat gave an assurance that contacts with American officials focus on the forthcoming implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a lasting nuclear deal that Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) struck in July 2015.
“In the circumstances that the Saudi government’s short-sighted measures have unfortunately grabbed the headlines, any two diplomats exchange a few words about it when having a conversation, but it does not mean that we have launched negotiations with the US (on non-nuclear issues),” Zarif stressed.
Saudi Arabia announced severance of relations with Iran after the kingdom’s execution of prominent Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr drew widespread international condemnation and ignited furious protests in Iran during which some of the demonstrators stormed the Saudi diplomatic buildings.
Iranian officials, however, condemned the attacks, with President Hassan Rouhani calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
In a Sunday telephone conversation with Foreign Minister Zarif, US Secretary of State John Kerry asked Iran to exercise restraint, avoid retaliation over Saudi Arabia’s execution of Sheikh Nimr, and to take steps toward de-escalating the growing tensions between Iran and the kingdom.
The controversy comes only days before implementation of the lasting nuclear deal between Iran and the Group 5+1 (also known as the P5+1 or E3+3).
Experts attribute Riyadh’s shocking decision to execute the top Shiite cleric to its anger and frustration after failing to hinder the landmark agreement on Iran’s nuclear program.
Contrary to Saudi expectations, a host of Western nations have blasted the execution of Sheikh Nimr and demanded that Iran exercise self-restraint and press ahead with the steps to carry out the JCPOA.