Zarif stresses benefits to Iran of framework nuclear deal

All United Nations Security Council resolutions related to Iran’s nuclear program will be lifted immediately if a final deal is agreed, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Saturday, stressing the benefits to Iran of this week’s negotiations. After leading Iranian negotiators to a preliminary deal with world powers in Switzerland, Zarif must now convince a domestic audience that the talks are heading toward a final deal that is in Iran’s interest. He disputed a “fact sheet” released by the United States shortly after the deal that emphasized Iranian concessions and referred to sanctions being suspended rather than lifted.

The Americans put what they wanted in the fact sheet… I even protested this issue with (U.S. Secretary of State John) Kerry himself.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

Iran’s lead negotiator, who was welcomed back to Tehran by cheering crowds on Friday, insisted that Iran had negotiated from a position of strength to secure a good preliminary deal. He pointed to the changes in the demands of the P5+1 group of countries - the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China - as evidence of the success of negotiations that began two years ago. Zarif said Iran would stick to its promises so long as the West also did so, and suggested a deal could open the door to more productive relations with the international community, echoing comments on Friday by President Hassan Rouhani.