Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the US losses as a result of its lack of commitment to its obligations under last year's nuclear agreement between Iran and major powers outweigh any benefits Washington may reap.
"It is election year for the Americans and they are more inclined to choose a method that will serve their interests in the election," Zarif said in an interview with IRIB in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sunday.
"They [US officials] are making a mistake because what they have lost so far as a result of the escalation of the Iranian nation's distrust due to the US lack of commitment has been far greater than what they can achieve."
The foreign minister emphasized that all countries, which have signed the nuclear agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, are duty-bound to implement it.
"We are also pursuing its implementation with seriousness," he said.
Belief in Dialogue
"The Islamic Republic has shown that it has negotiated [with major powers] with seriousness and insisted on [the Iranian] people's rights in these negotiations. Iran has also shown the world that the Islamic Republic seeks negotiations and dialogue to reach a solution," he said.
Zarif noted that Iran has envisaged different measures under the directives issued by the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei during the nuclear talks to prevent any possible loss as a result of the violation of the nuclear agreement by the opposite side.
Ayatollah Khamenei said on August 1 that Iran's experience in striking a nuclear agreement with major powers, including the United States, was a clear example of the enemies' untrustworthiness.
"Today, even diplomatic officials and those who were present in the [nuclear] negotiations reiterate the fact that the US is breaching its promises, and while speaking softly and sweetly [to Iran], is busy obstructing and damaging Iran's economic relations with other countries," Ayatollah Khamenei said.
On January 16, Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia— plus Germany started implementing the deal they had clinched on July 14, 2015.
Under the agreement, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the UN Security Council and the US were lifted. Iran has, in return, put temporary limitations on its nuclear activities.
