Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif said last week that by exiting the nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018, the United States gave up its rights but not its obligations.
In an interview with Iranian journalist Mehdi Nasiri posted to the Arman Media YouTube channel on Dec. 9, Zarif said, "America is still obligated to lift its sanctions and to refrain from creating obstacles because it has remained a member of the United Nations since leaving the JCPOA."
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
"Of course," he added, "it had the option to leave [the United Nations], like it left UNESCO [the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and other organizations. Allah willing, it will also leave planet Earth."
Because of this, he continued, US President-elect Joe Biden's administration would be "obligated" to rejoin the JCPOA "unless it chooses to break the law and mounts an insurgency."
He explained that Western powers had tried to include Iran's missile program and its regional activity in the JCPOA but had failed. Hence, he said, they did not have the option to demand the inclusion of these issues now.
Moreover, he said, the United States had sold billions of dollars' worth of arms to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other Arab countries.
"Last year, they sold $67 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia. They sold over $22 billion worth of weapons to the UAE. They are now selling F-35s [fighter jets] to the UAE. Nothing stops them when it comes to selling weapons to these countries. Are they willing to decrease their sale of weapons to the region? Of course not," he said.
Zarif then asserted the Americans "owe the Iranian people. We must not feel inferior," he said.
As for Iran's policy and strategy for confronting Israel, Zarif said, "I state this unequivocally: Personally, I cannot think of any circumstances under which we would officially recognize Israel. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I cannot imagine under what circumstances we would do this."
On Israel, said Zarif, "the honorable leader [Ali Khamenei] has expressed the solution. We're not talking about throwing the k***s into the sea, or a military attack, or suicide operations."
Rather he said Iran has suggested to the United Nations that a popular referendum, including Palestinians in the territories and the diaspora, would resolve the matter.
Reprinted with permission from JNS.org
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
