Baku, Azerbaijan, March 15
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Domestic opponents` statements against the ministry's foreign policy and nuclear deal hurt more than foreigners, Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif said, the country's Jamejam newspaper reported on March 15.
"You do not expect friendship and honesty from foreigners, while you expect from compatriots," Zarif said.
Iran and the P5+1 (Russia, China, France, Germany, UK and the U.S.) signed an interim deal on Iran's nuclear energy program in Geneva on November 24, 2013. The deal, which dubbed "Joint Plan of Action", took effect on Jan. 20.
Under the agreement, the six major powers agreed to give Iran access to its $4.2 billion in revenues blocked overseas if the country fulfils the deal's terms which offer sanctions relief in exchange of steps on curbing the Iranian nuclear program. The two parties aim to continue their talks to reach a final agreement to fully resolve the decade-old dispute over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.
Commenting on Iranian hardliners` criticism against the deal, Zarif said that he does not claim that it is perfect and flawless, adding that he agrees with some criticisms.
The document is a joint document and Iran has had to agree with six other countries on its contents, the top diplomat remarked.
All the parties have discussed and agreed on every single word of the joint agreement, Zarif added.
The title of the document was discussed for approximately two hours, Zarif stressed.
Commenting on the uranium enrichment right, the foreign minister said that Iran did not allow the U.S. to fulfil its desire to limit Iran's uranium enrichment right under various conditions.
"We told them that uranium enrichment inside the country is Iran's redline," Zarif said, remarking that "we announced that only frameworks of the enrichment may be discussed".
The foreign minister also said that he will resign if he feels that can not protect the national interests and Iran's rights.