Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 2
By: Khalid Kazimov - Trend:
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has stated that there are parties both inside and outside the country that do not desire an end to economic sanctions on the country, Iran's ISNA news agency reported Feb. 2.
Zarif who was speaking at a meeting in Kenya Feb. 2 said, "It is a pity that some people from both inside and outside the country are among those that do not like an end to the sanctions and regard the continuation of the sanctions in line with their interests."
"I regret that sometimes the sanctions themselves are mistaken for the impacts of the sanctions," he added.
The Iranian foreign minister further stated, "It is necessary that such technical topics be reviewed through necessary consultations and the unreal, non-legal problems be raised."
Western powers have imposed economic sanctions on Iran, maintaining that their move is aimed at making the country clarify its nuclear activities.
Iran has repeatedly emphasized the peaceful nature of its nuclear program and called the sanctions unjust.
Iran and six powerful countries known as P5+1(five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) are in talks to come to a comprehensive deal on the issue.
Member of parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Mohammad Hassan Asafari said on Jan. 31 that withdrawing from the talks will be "the most logical" reaction to possible imposition of new sanction.
His remarks came after the banking committee of the US Senate approved new legislation against Iran a week earlier that aims to "toughen sanctions" on Iran.
Edited by CN