Tehran, Iran, Aug. 6
By Temkin Jafarov -- Trend:
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reacted to the U. president's statements made at American University about curbing Iran's nuclear bomb program.
Zarif rejected President Barak Obama's claim, saying, "Iran has never been after nuclear weapon and has no intention to do so in future", a governmental source told Trend.
Zarif issued a statement on Aug.6, responding to Obama's speech.
Obama said on August 5, "if the goal is to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, the real choice is between the existing deal and a war. It's a simple fact, though one that skeptics have shied away from."
Iran and P5+1 reached a comprehensive nuclear deal on July 14, which paves the way for lifting sanctions on Iran after Congressional approve and verification of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
"Because more sanctions won't produce the results that the critics want," Obama said, "congressional rejection of this deal leaves any U.S. administration only one option: another war in the Middle East. I say this not to be provocative. I'm stating a fact."
Zarif said that naming the nuclear deal as leverage to curbing Iran's access to nuclear bomb is attempting to acquire what has already been acquired. "It's only a way to satisfy Zionists and internal critics".
"The experience of past years indicates that the wrong policy and proceedings of the US and their allies, like the Zionist regime (Israel), have caused expansion of terrorism, instability and extremism in the region (Middle East), which has resulted in nothing but wars, destruction and extremism."
He said that Iran's priority is the peaceful and stable environment around the country.
Responding to Obama, Iran's top diplomat said that Iran's position in nuclear negotiations indicated that even a "fictitious crisis" could be resolved by rationality and respecting each other.
The basis of Iranophobia has been weakened and lauding the post claims has no advantage for anyone, except army export companies. Zarif said.
He said that the previous American administrations have lost the opportunities because of wrong and fictitious believes and approaches and it's a historic time to gain the Iranian people's trust.
Edited by CN