Zarif:

US Sanctions Not Respected Even by NATO Members

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined the ineffectiveness of Washington's sanctions against him, saying that even the NATO and other US allies do not care about the ban.

News ID: 446823

Date: 03 September 2019 - 18:42

RNA - "The Americans imagine that this sanction can make me quiet but it has not been so with God's help," Zarif said on Sunday, noting that many European and even American journalists have demanded interviews with him in Iran and the European states.

He referred to his recent tour of four European countries (Sweden, Finland, Norway and France), and reminded that they are the NATO members or have very close relations with the US, implying that his visit to these states shows that they don't care about Washington's sanctions on him.

"If I had time my trips to many other countries were also possible and this trend shows that sanctions against me have been ignored by the international community," Zarif said.

Late in July, the US Department of Treasury imposed sanctions against Zarif.

According to Fars News Agancy, Zarif, who has been Iran’s foreign minister since 2013, was the chief negotiator in the multinational nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The Trump administration said last month it was planning to impose sanctions against Iranian top diplomat.

In reaction to the decision, Zarif played down the US sanctions against him, expressing pleasure that he is considered as a "huge threat" to Washington's plots.

"The US' reason for designating me is that I am Iran's primary spokesperson around the world," Zarif wrote on his Twitter account.

"It has no effect on me or my family, as I have no property or interests outside of Iran," he added, asking the US whether the truth is really painful.

"Thank you for considering me such a huge threat to your agenda," Zarif reiterated.

"We know that calling for dialog and peace is an existential threat to B-Team. And since reason for designating me is my words, would US persons need OFAC license to engage with me by reading my writings or listening to interviews?" he wrote.

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