Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi called on Western countries to quit delusional thoughts that they can set conditions for the lifting of sanctions, stressing that Tehran has chosen an economy that is independent from the nuclear deal.
In a televised interview on Monday, the Iranian diplomat said Tehran “has made its decision on a JCPOA-free economy and life,” referring to the official name of the 2015 nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).
“We are not excited about America’s return to the JCPOA and it is not the case that we would embrace US’ return with open arms,” added Araqchi.
“Westerners are suffering from a delusion and think that due to pressures imposed on the country by US sanction in the past years, the Islamic Republic is ready and will quickly embrace America’s return to the deal and so they can set conditions for the lifting of the sanctions. This is a completely wrong and delusional understanding [of Iran],” the diplomat said as quoted by Mehr news agency.
He added that the oil-independent economy of Iran has been realized since two years ago, noting that this “was one of the services of Donald Trump to Iran.”
Asked about the recent step taken by Iran to increase the level of Uranium enrichment, Araqchi stressed that steps in reducing commitments to the JCPOA comes in response to other parties’ failure to fulfill their obligations under the deal after the unilateral withdrawal of the United States.
Referring to the recent law passed at the Iranian Parliament, he said the administration had to implement the law as the executive branch, and the measures noted in the motion were carried out accordingly.
Source: Iranian media
