Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the Islamic Republic's engagement with the United States beyond the nuclear issue is pending a decisive change in the US policy to win the Iranians' trust.
"The US should try to overcome this distrust. First, US officials should quit making irresponsible remarks to create panic among our nation and top officials," Zarif told ISNA on Sunday. "Second, they should stop their propaganda campaigns and seriously pursue their commitments" under the July nuclear deal, formally referred to as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action."
The action plan was negotiated with P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) and took effect in mid-January to give Iran relief from the United Nations, European Union and United States sanctions, in exchange for temporary curbs on its nuclear program. The JCPOA requires Washington to cease the application of its sanctions.
"The US administration, acting consistent with the respective roles of the president and the Congress, will refrain from reintroducing or reimposing the sanctions … that it has ceased applying under this JCPOA … The US administration, acting consistent with the respective roles of the president and the Congress, will refrain from imposing new nuclear-related sanctions," the deal says.
Zarif said it is the US actions rather than just words that will be considered by Iran to monitor its compliance with the deal. "This is what determines whether Iran will hold negotiations with the United States on issues other than the nuclear dispute. I agree with President Hassan Rouhani that Washington holds the key to this. Americans have yet to make an effort to address the Iranians' distrust," the top diplomat said.
"On paper, the American side has so far fulfilled its commitments. Despite some good practical measures such as the reconnection of Iranian banks to the [global transaction network] SWIFT system, there are still attempts to prevent the removal of sanctions."
