ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday reiterated calls on the US to lift sanctions on the Islamic Republic, adding that America “must deliver” on its pledges.
“America is not giving us charity; it must deliver on its pledges. Any threats or sanctions are intended to destroy the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] and thus all sanctions must be lifted,” Zarif said in a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
"We have no problem with fulfilling JCPOA commitments, as the Supreme Leader said, but Americans need to know that neither sanctions nor sabotage will be a tool of negotiation, and it will only make the situation more difficult for them,” he added.
Iran has said it will return to full compliance with the deal, but only after the United States lifts all sanctions it imposed after former President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement. Washington wants to return to the accord, but also wants to expand negotiations to include Iran’s human rights record, regional activities, and ballistic missile program.
Zarif’s comments come two days after a blackout at Iran’s underground Natanz nuclear facility. While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, suspicion fell immediately on Israel and multiple Israeli media outlets reported that an Israeli cyberattack caused the blackout.
The foreign ministry placed the blame on Israel, saying “this is a crime against humanity which stems from the essence of this wayward Zionist regime.”
The act comes amid renewed talks on the landmark nuclear agreement signed in 2015, designed to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions in return for sanctions relief. Since the US withdrew from the agreement in 2018, Iran has taken several steps back from its commitments in the deal, which included a ban on uranium enrichment.
In a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has a clear policy to “not allow Iran to acquire the nuclear capability to carry out its genocidal scheme aimed at destroying Israel. And Israel will continue to defend itself from Iranian aggression and terrorism.”
Zarif added that sanctions on Iran are “a burden” on US foreign policy and have a counterproductive effect.
"Do not forget that when Mr. Trump came to power, Iran had 300 kilos of enriched uranium, today it has over 4,000 kilos.”
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