Iran’s Vice President for Strategic Affairs, Mohamad Javad Zarf, called this Saturday on the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, “not to repeat the wrong policies of the past of maximum pressure against Tehran.”
“Trump must demonstrate that he is not repeating the wrong policies of the past,” Zarif said in statements to journalists, according to the SNN agency.
The former Iranian foreign minister said Trump should acknowledge that his maximum pressure policy led to Iran’s uranium enrichment levels increasing from the 3.5% stipulated in the 2015 nuclear deal to 60%, already close to the level. 90% necessary to make atomic weapons.
Zarif thus made reference to the departure, in 2018, of the then American president from the nuclear pact, signed between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (USA, France, United Kingdom, Russia and China) more Germany.
After leaving the agreement, Trump reimposed severe sanctions against Iran, which had been suspended under the pact.
Tehran, in turn, began a year later to reduce its obligations under the international agreement and reduced its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Organization, restricting inspections of its nuclear facilities.
Zarif, architect of the nuclear deal, urged the newly elected US president to “calculate the harms and benefits” of his maximum pressure policy.
Relations between Iran and the United States, very tense in recent decades, are going through one of their worst moments after the outbreak of the war that confronts Israel, which has Washington as its main ally, with Hamas and Hezbollah, two of the groups Islamists supported by Iran, who together with the Houthis of Yemen and the Iraqi militias make up the anti-Israel alliance ‘Axis of Resistance’.
This week, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said his country had suspended indirect talks with Washington to restore the nuclear deal due to the escalation in the region.
Tehran / EFE
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**Interview with Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Vice President for Strategic Affairs**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Mr. Zarif. You recently urged President-elect Trump to reassess the “maximum pressure” policy against Iran. Can you elaborate on why you believe this policy should be changed?
**Zarif:** Thank you for having me. The “maximum pressure” policy has not only been detrimental to Iran but has also complicated relationships with other nations. It has led to increased tensions and has not brought the intended results. We believe that dialogue and diplomacy should be prioritized over coercion.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that Trump must demonstrate he is not repeating the past. What specific actions do you expect from him?
**Zarif:** We expect him to engage in a constructive dialogue with Iran and re-evaluate the sanctions that have harming ordinary citizens. A positive step would be to return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and work collaboratively towards mutual respect and understanding.
**Interviewer:** How do you think the international community would react if Trump reverses his predecessor’s policies?
**Zarif:** The international community is keen on stability in the region. A shift in policy could restore trust not just between Iran and the U.S. but also between the U.S. and its allies. Many countries have been advocating for a more diplomatic approach, and I believe that would be widely welcomed.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, what message do you want to convey to the American people regarding Iran?
**Zarif:** I want the American people to understand that dialogue, rather than confrontation, is the pathway to peace and prosperity. We are willing to engage and find common ground. It is time to move away from the mistakes of the past and build a future based on cooperation rather than hostility.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Mr. Zarif.
**Zarif:** Thank you for having me.
