Iran's Zarif has 'no concern' about nuclear deal

TEHRAN - Agence France-Presse

AP photo

Iran's foreign minister moved July 28 to dismiss speculation that his country's nuclear deal with major powers could hit difficulties, saying he had "no concern or worry" about its implementation.

Mohammad Javad Zarif's remarks came during a news conference with visiting EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, as they seek to ensure that the agreement swiftly takes effect.
 
Mogherini was intricately involved in the long-running diplomacy that culminated in a July 14 accord between Iran and six world powers.
 
Her trip came as US Secretary of State John Kerry insisted to lawmakers in Washington -- who have effectively accused him of being duped by Iran -- that the agreement was the best deal achievable.
 
The past week in Iran, meanwhile, has seen hardline elements, including the commander of the powerful Revolutionary Guards force and some MPs, raise concerns about the agreement's terms.
 
Asked about accusations in some conservative Iranian media that the agreement breaks supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's "red lines", Zarif moved to allay such claims.
 
"Iran has stuck to its obligations and Iran is going to do the same when it comes to implementing the deal," he said, following talks with Mogherini about measures that are needed.
 
He acknowledged that "some people in Iran have some doubts about some countries, particularly the US, to implement seriously and precisely".
 
But he added: "I have no concern or worry that the deal will be implemented. I know very well that it is going to be implemented."          

Zarif gave a timeline of "60 to 70 days" for the deal to be settled.
 
"Iran will continue to cooperate with the IAEA," he said, referring to the UN nuclear watchdog.
 
"I hope the EU and United States will continue to implement their commitments."  

Under the deal, Iran must take measures at its nuclear facilities to satisfy UN monitors of their peaceful nature. Iran has always denied seeking an atomic bomb.
 
In return, the world powers must finalise the mechanism for lifting UN and Western sanctions.
 
The deal has been broadly welcomed in Tehran, with officials lining up to back the government for securing relief from sanctions in exchange for curbs on some but not all of its nuclear activities.
 
Mogherini also met President Hassan Rouhani July 28.
 
"The same way that efforts were taken for reaching agreement, (we) should concentrate on its accurate and complete implementation so that our nations and all the world enjoy its benefits," Rouhani said.
 
Mogherini will be followed in Tehran Wednesday by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who has been heavily criticised by Iranian conservatives for his hardline stance in the talks.    

Iran's parliament recently passed a law forbidding foreigners from entering military sites where international monitors have alleged past work on developing nuclear weapons took place.
 
Although international inspectors have visited Iran's nuclear sites for years, critics have said such restrictions on military facilities will hamper any effective enforcement of the deal.
 
As the agreement goes under a potentially bruising review in the US Congress, President Barack Obama has defended it as the best way to avoid nuclear proliferation and another conflict in the Middle East.
 
He has sought to head off critics by stressing that the accord does not preclude military action if Iran welches on its side of the bargain, comments that were received frostily in Tehran.
         
Secretary of State John Kerry, meanwhile, told US lawmakers that the Iran nuclear deal was not intended to push the Islamic republic's regime to reform but to prevent it building a bomb.
 
"This plan was designed to address the nuclear issue alone, not to reform Iran's regime, or end its support for terrorism, or its contributions to sectarian violence in the Middle East," Kerry told the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
 
Rejecting the deal -- as Congress has the power to do -- would essentially give Iran a green light to return full-speed to its enrichment efforts, he said.
 
Republicans in Congress, including presidential candidates, have poured scorn on the deal but face a monumental battle to overcome Obama's threat to veto any attempt to block it.
 
Mogherini flew in from talks in Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia, whose leaders told her of their deep misgivings about Tehran's intentions.
 
Riyadh has not publicly condemned the agreement, unlike Israel which has furiously attacked the deal.
 
Mogherini said that while the accord was on the nuclear issue it could have a broader impact as it was "not the end of a process... it's a beginning".
 
"It's going to open a new chapter in relations between Iran and the EU," she said, before addressing possibly greater cooperation between Iran and the West on tackling Islamic State group militants in Iraq and Syria.