Thinking about JCPOA Renegotiation Extremely Dangerous: Iran FM

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has rejected attempts aimed at preparing the ground for a renegotiation of the terms of Iran nuclear deal, saying it is very dangerous even to think about such an ‘impossible’ move.

“It would be extremely dangerous to even contemplate reopening these negotiations, because now we all go into any possible negotiations with even higher expectations,” Zarif told the New Yorker in an interview published on Wednesday.

“It was complicated enough to reach this deal already, and it would be impossible to reach another deal,” said the Iranian top diplomat, who is in New York for a speech at the United Nations.

He further referred to speculations about his possible meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and said, “I haven’t asked for a meeting, and I don’t think I will.”

“We’re not opposed to the possibility of a meeting between us and Secretary Tillerson if it is necessary for the implementation of the nuclear deal…if we succeed in seeing good faith on the part of the United States in the implementation of the nuclear deal, then it would be a foundation and not the ceiling. And it would be possible to engage in other areas. We haven’t seen that yet.”

He also referred to US President Donald Trump administration’s confusion over the deal and said, “It’s not clear what the Administration is planning to do. I think now they have come to the realization that scrapping the deal is not something that would be globally welcomed.”

Zarif went on to say that the message the United States is sending to the rest of the world is that you cannot count on the US being committed to its international undertakings.

“So, not only is that a bad signal to Iran but also a bad signal to anybody else, whoever contemplates talking to the US or negotiating with the US,” he added.

IFP Editorial Staff

The IFP Editorial Staff is composed of dozens of skilled journalists, news-writers, and analysts whose works are edited and published by experienced editors specialized in Iran News. The editor of each IFP Service is responsible for the report published by the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website, and can be contacted through the ways mentioned in the "IFP Editorial Staff" section.