FM Zarif Rejects Claim that Obama Granted Citizenship to 2,500 Iranians

Mohammad Javad Zarif referred to a recent allegation raised by conservative lawmaker Mojtaba Zonnour about the issue, and stressed that the claim is not true, whatsoever.

“I was present at the [nuclear] talks, and I deny the news. It is a lie, altogether,” said Zarif in an interview with Alef news website.

“Such issues were never brought up during or on the sidelines of the negotiations or otherwise,” the top diplomat said.

Zarif said even legitimate demands such as lifting the limitations on the activities of Iranian diplomats at the UN were not discussed, let alone the issue of citizenship for ordinary Iranians.

He dared those who made the claim to publish the names of the individuals allegedly granted citizenship by the US.

Zarif’s remarks came after Zonnour first claimed that the Obama administration granted citizenship to 2,500 Iranians as part of the nuclear agreement.

Later, US President Donald Trump tweeted the legislator’s unsubstantiated claim.

“Just out that the Obama administration granted citizenship, during the terrible Iran Deal negotiation, to 2,500 Iranians, including to [sic] government officials. How big (and bad) is that?”

Neither Zonnour nor Trump cited any evidence for the allegation.