Zarif from Tehran: Deal Ends ‘Manufactured Crisis’

A deal with world powers ended a “manufactured crisis” over Iran’s nuclear program, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Wednesday as he arrived home from negotiating the long-awaited nuclear agreement.

Zarif after arriving in Tehran airportAs attention turned to the lengthy process of implementing the accord, Zarif said the world had no cause to fear Iran’s nuclear activities.

Zarif, who led Iran’s negotiating team in the 18 straight days of “tough” talks that culminated in Tuesday’s historic agreement, said common ground had been found.

“We will take measures and they will do their part,” he told reporters at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport, referring to the six powers. “It will happen in around four months from now,” he said of the formal implementation of the deal.

The Iranian FM hit back at the deal’s biggest critic, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, head of the region’s sole if undeclared nuclear state, who branded the agreement a “historic mistake”.

“Netanyahu kicked up a fuss as he is upset that Iran managed to get sanctions lifted and prevent a manufactured crisis,” Zarif said.

Zarif’s comments came after a night of celebrations in Tehran where his own name was chanted in the streets by joyous Iranians.

The United Nations Security Council is likely to vote next week on a resolution to endorse the Iran nuclear deal and terminate targeted sanctions.

The United States will circulate the draft resolution to the 15-member Security Council on Wednesday, UN diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The UN Security Council resolution would terminate its seven previous resolutions on Iran.