Zarif: Iran Will Not Only Survive, But Thrive Despite Sanctions

Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif has dismissed his American counterpart’s starvation threat, stressing that Iran will survive and even advance despite Washington’s sanctions.
In a post on his official Twitter account on Saturday, Zarif said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s threat to starve the Iranian nation was “a crime against humanity” and “a desperate attempt to impose US whims on Iran”.
“Like his predecessors, he’ll also learn that—in spite of US efforts—Iran will not just survive but advance w/out sacrificing its sovereignty,” Zarif was quoted as saying by Press TV.
In a recent interview with BBC Persian, the US secretary of state said Iranian authorities have to “make a decision that they want their people to eat. They have to make a decision that they want to use their wealth to import medicine”. 
Pompeo was suggesting that Tehran needs to change its defense and regional policies, as demanded by the US, to receive relief from the pain of harsh penalties.     
The administration of US President Donald Trump announced on Nov. 5 the reimposition of “toughest” sanctions ever against Iran’s banking and energy sectors with the aim of cutting off its oil sales and crucial exports. The bans had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
The first round of the anti-Iran measures had been restored in August.

No Talks in Sight 

Pompeo also said in his interview that since the reintroduction of the sanctions, there was no sign yet that Iranian officials would return to the table for talks.
In an online video message on Tuesday, Zarif lashed out at the US for imposing “illegal and draconian” sanctions on Tehran, saying Washington would once again regret its “unwise measures”.
“The US administration appears to believe that imposing illegal, draconian sanctions on Iran will bring about such pain to our nation that it will force us to submit to its will no matter how absurd, unlawful or fundamentally flawed its demands are,” Zarif said.
Separately, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said France and other European countries were determined to enjoy the economic benefits of the multilateral nuclear agreement.
In a phone call with the Iranian foreign minister on Saturday, Le Drian added that the Europeans were working on special mechanisms in this regard.
The top Iranian and French diplomats also discussed the latest developments about Tehran-Paris relations, JCPOA and other issues of mutual interest.