Zarif answers Iranian critics: Nuclear deal preserves our red lines

Iran’s foreign minister defended the nuclear deal he reached with world powers after criticism from hardliners, telling the conservative-dominated parliament on Tuesday that most if not all of the country’s conditions had been respected.

 

“We don’t say the deal is totally in favor of Iran. Any negotiation is a give and take. We have definitely shown some flexibility,” the minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif said.

 

“I tell you as I told the Supreme Leader, we did our best to preserve most of the red lines, if not all,” Zarif said, referring to arch-conservative cleric Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last word on all high matters of state.

 

Under the historic accord reached in Vienna last week, Iran will be subjected to long-term curbs on a nuclear program that the West suspected was aimed at creating an atomic bomb but which Tehran says is peaceful. In return US, European Union and UN sanctions on Iran will be lifted.

 

The deal must still be approved by Iran’s National Security Council and ultimately by Khamenei.

 

Read More: Zarif answers Iranian critics: Nuclear deal preserves our red lines – Middle East – Jerusalem Post