Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said today (Sunday) that the damage from US sanctions has cost Iran’s economy more than $ 1 trillion, stating that his country will demand that Washington pay compensation to Tehran for the damage.
In an hour-long interview with Iranian news network PressTV, the minister said: “The United States has imposed 800 different sanctions on us that have caused economic damage of over $ 1 trillion.
“We will get what we deserve, whether in the form of direct compensation payments, financial investment or the establishment of a mechanism that will ensure that actions like President Trump’s will not happen in the future,” Zarif announced during the interview.
Zarif condemned European conduct, saying: “Germany, Britain and France have shown that they are waiting for American action to act on their own. This has brought them to where they are now against Iran. They must now press the United States to return to the agreement, if only to save their honor.”
The chairman of the IAEA visited Iran
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, landed in Tehran today for intensive talks with the heads of the country’s nuclear program, in order to promote the United States’ return to the nuclear agreement and prevent further escalation in Iranian violations of the agreement.
Grossi met with Iranian Ambassador to the Agency, Kazem Garibabadi and with Iranian Atomic Energy Agency Spokesman, on Rose Kamelbandi. The Iranians announced at the end of the meeting that they would issue a statement on the issue during the evening hours.
Grossi also met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who said during the meeting: “The United States will not be able to return to the nuclear deal without lifting sanctions on Iran. Once the Americans return to full compliance with the nuclear deal, so will we.”
Commenting on the entry into force of legislation expected to deepen violations of the nuclear deal on Tehran’s part, Zarif said: “This is never an ultimatum. Like any democracy, we voted for a law and the government to abide by it. The move is not a departure from the deal.”