"The members of the Group 5+1 should comply with their undertaking and annul the UN Security Council sanctions against Iran," Zarif told reporters after meeting Romanian Deputy Foreign Minister Carmen Burlaco in Tehran on Monday.
Asked if the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) enjoy the necessary power and authority to remove the UNSC sanctions against Iran without any need to the consent of the other member states, Zarif said, "The Group 5+1 cannot annul the UN Security Council sanctions by themselves, but they as the five permanent Security Council members know that no agreement will be put into effect unless the 5+1 members comply with their undertaking for removing the UNSC sanctions against Iran.
Zarif said Iran has stressed this issue in all its nuclear talks with the the six powers.
He said one of the major undertakings which goes under discussion in every round of Iran-powers nuclear negotiations pertains to the abovementioned topic, meaning that "the G5+1 should help to the removal of the sanctions through UN Security Council mechanisms".
The Iranian foreign minister further pointed out that he would have a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton as well as several bilateral talks with the G5+1 members on the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting in New York in September.
Last week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the US-led sanctions have harmed both the eastern and western states and their removal will help strengthen security and stability in the region.
"We have weakened and shaken the bases of sanctions and the conditions will never return to the past, we are serious and determined in the negotiations (with the world powers), but the world should know that the opportunity provided by the Iranian nation is not indefinite," Rouhani said, addressing an economic forum in Tehran on Tuesday.
"An agreement (between Iran and the Group 5+1) will benefit all and the western and eastern countries are telling us that the sanctions have harmed them and the removal of sanctions will benefit all," he added.
"On the other hand such an agreement will strengthen stability in the entire region and God willing, if the two sides enjoy a good will, we can reach a final settlement over this issue," Rouhani underlined.
On July 20, the deadline for reaching a final agreement on Iran's future nuclear activities was postponed by four months—until November 24—to give more time for diplomatic efforts.
Zarif and Ashton in a joint statement after over two weeks of talks stressed the need for more efforts and time to reach an agreement with the world powers over Tehran's nuclear program.
The two officials who presided the negotiating sides, emphasized at the end of Iran-G5+1 negotiations that they have held different sessions in different forms and in a constructive atmosphere to reach a final comprehensive agreement.
Due to certain differences over some fundamental issues the two sides agreed to extend the Joint Plan of Action by November 24, they added.
