Iran FM slams US over renewing sanctions

Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 3

By Khalid Kazimov – Trend:

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has criticized the US over its legislation related to renewing the sanctions against Iran.

“The extension of the sanctions will bring discredit upon the US on the international arena,” IRNA news agency quoted Zarif as saying upon his arrival in India this morning.

He added that the sanctions will have no impact on the third countries planning to do business in Iran.

He further called on the US officials to halt the implementation of the sanctions against Iran.

Iranian officials have earlier called on the outgoing President of the US Barack Obama to exercise veto power to prevent the legislation on Iran.

The US lawmakers have recently reauthorized the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), which was first introduced in 1996 to punish investments in Iran's energy industry based on accusations that Tehran was pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

While the Barack Obama is expected to approve the legislation on the renewal of sanctions against Iran for the next 10 years, Iranian leaders have sharply criticized the motion describing it as a breach of the last year’s landmark nuclear deal.

Javad Zarif has arrived in Delhi at the first leg of his regional tour to Asia.

Zarif will address the Heart of Asia ministerial conference in India and then will visit China and Japan at the official invitations of the foreign ministers of the East Asian nations.