Zarif Responds to Blinken’s Comments on JCPOA
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made it clear for his new US counterpart that the one who must take the first step and return to the JCPOA is Washington, not Tehran.
In a post in his Twitter account on Thursday, Zarif pointed to the US’ hostile actions against Iran in response to the recent comments from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said the US will meet its commitments under the JCPOA only after Iran does so.
In his tweet, titled “reality check for Blinken”, the Iranian foreign minister said the US violated the JCPOA, blocked food and medicine to Iranians, and even punished adherence to the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the nuclear deal.
“Throughout that sordid mess, Iran abided by JCPOA, only took foreseen remedial measures. Now, who should take 1st step?” Zarif asked.
“Never forget Trump's maximum failure,” he told his new American counterpart.
In his first briefing as US state secretary, Blinken told reporters on Wednesday that Washington wants to restart meeting its JCPOA obligations, but that Iran needs to act first and any US return may take a while.