Zarif: Iran to Give Well-Calculated Response to World Powers’ Improper Measures

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif deplored Washington for breaching the Geneva agreement by blacklisting a dozen companies and individuals for evading US sanctions, and said Tehran will show a well-assessed and goal-oriented reaction to any measure adopted by the world powers in violation of the deal.
“The Americans have taken improper measures in the last few days and we have given the appropriate response to them after considering all aspects of the issue,” Zarif said on Sunday.

He stressed that Tehran is seriously pursuing the Geneva negotiations with the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany), “and we will, of course, show proper, well-assessed, targeted and smart reaction to any improper and unconstructive measure (of the opposite side even if it doesn’t violate the Geneva agreement)”.

Meantime, the foreign minister said the nuclear negotiations is moving on a rough path with many ups and downs before the attainment of the final results, “which is not something unexpected as we had forseen this since the very first day”.

After the United States’ recent punitive measure which violated the Geneva deal between Iran and the world powers, Tehran officials have issued warnings that Washington’s move can ruin the agreement.

“This (US) action is against the spirit of the Geneva agreement and we will show a proper reaction,” Zarif’s deputy Seyed Abbas Araqchi told FNA on Friday.

“We are assessing the conditions and will adopt a proper reaction,” he added.

Iranian negotiators in Vienna halted nuclear talks with major world powers on Thursday to return to Tehran for consultations after Washington imposed new sanctions against the country.

The negotiators had been discussing the implementation of a landmark interim accord agreed last month with the G5+1.

“The Iranian negotiators interrupted the talks with the G5+1 for consultations in Tehran,” a negotiator said on Thursday.

Under the interim deal reached in Geneva, Iran agreed to freeze parts of its suspect nuclear program for six months in return for some $7bln in relief from western sanctions.

The United States also agreed to refrain from slapping new sanctions on Iran, but senior administration officials argued that Thursday’s measures were taken as part of the existing sanctions regime against Tehran.