“Their (P5+1) past policy was wrong and [they] achieved nothing. So, it is necessary that they change such a policy. Otherwise, the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue resistance like the past 10 years,” Zarif told reporters upon his arrival from his first official visit to Iraq on Monday.
He urged Western countries to look at the events of the past 10 years, see their defeated objectives and then change their “lose-lose game” strategy.
Iran and the P5+1 group have held several rounds of talks on a range of issues, with the main focus being on Iran’s nuclear energy program. The two sides wrapped up their latest round of negotiations on April 6 in the Kazakh city of Almaty. An earlier meeting had been held in Almaty on February 26-27.
The Iranian minister said the “illegal and unfair” sanctions would have no impact on the determination of the Iranian government and nation to pursue peaceful nuclear activities.
“These sanctions …show that there is no political will for constructive interaction with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Zarif stated.
He added that Iran considers allaying the concerns of the international community necessary for its national security and stability as well as for having a successful and active international presence.
On September 5, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani officially assigned the Foreign Ministry to take charge of future nuclear talks with the P5+1 group -- Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States plus Germany.
The talks were previously conducted by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
The United States, Israel and some of their allies falsely claim that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the US and the European Union using the unfounded allegation as a pretext to impose illegal sanctions on Iran.
Tehran strongly rejects the claim, maintaining that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Meanwhile, numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities by the IAEA have never found any evidence showing that the Iranian nuclear energy program has been diverted toward non-civilian purposes.