We believe the sanctions are illegal. They violate basic principles. Jazayeri’s comments come after an announcement Sunday that the US will apply new sanctions on several actors supporting Iran’s ballistic missile program.
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Addressing a session on social entrepreneurship in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday evening, he outlined Iran’s views on major economic and political issues and answered to questions posed to him by participants who were mainly big industrial names and economic activists. “The Iranian missile program is a legitimate defense program” and allowed under the landmark nuclear deal, he said.
The UN certified last weekend that Iran had met all of its commitments under the nuclear deal, leading to the lifting of long-standing Western economic sanctions on the country. “Its addiction to pressure, addiction to coercion, addiction to sanctions”. The pact will facilitate investment by Japanese companies in Iran at a time when US and European companies are racing to tap into the commercial potential of the Iranian market.
Zarif further expressed Iran’s preparedness “to show even greater transparency in order for the International Community to know what we already know, that our program is nothing but peaceful”.
“The United States sells tens of billions of dollars worth of military equipment to the region”, Zarif said. The minister said they had no plans to meet. State TV quoted Valiollah Seif as saying Iran has transferred assets from banks in Japan and South Korea to other banks in Germany and the United Arab Emirates. Iran backs Syrian President Assad and Yemeni Shiite rebels known as Houthis, who are fighting a Saudi-led coalition that backs the internationally recognized president.
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Asked about conservative voices within Iran, he said: “Iran is not a monolith, I think Americans would recognize that… just like the United States is not”.
